![\"Kyogo](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0_JS357408524.jpg\")
Kyogo Furuhashi is being targeted by Birmingham City<\/p>\nBirmingham City are keen to rescue striker Kyogo Furuhashi from his \u00a310m Rennes nightmare<\/p>\n
15:25, 04 Jul 2025Updated 15:25, 04 Jul 2025<\/p>\n
Kyogo Furuhashi is being targeted by Birmingham City<\/p>\n
Kyogo Furuhashi is \u2018a special talent\u2019 who will bolster Birmingham City\u2019s<\/a> bid for back-to-back promotions.<\/p>\n That\u2019s the verdict of the Daily Record\u2019s Ryan McDonald<\/a>, who watched Kyogo at close quarters during his electric three-and-a-half year spell at Celtic Park.<\/p>\n Kyogo is reportedly closing in on a move to Blues after a difficult six months at Rennes since leaving Celtic in a \u00a310m transfer during the winter window.<\/p>\n The 30-year-old is set to leave France this summer and a move to St Andrew\u2019s @ Knighthead Park, where he would be reunited with compatriot and ex-Celtic teammate Tomoki Iwata,<\/a> is moving closer.<\/p>\n Blues would be getting a striker who scored 85 goals in 165 matches for Celtic, including numerous strikes in Old Firm derbies versus Rangers and Champions League efforts against Atletico Madrid and Lazio.<\/p>\n Kyogo might have struggled in France, but he is revered by Celtic supporters.<\/p>\n Speaking to our Keep Right On Podcast, <\/a>McDonald said: \u201cThe biggest compliment I can pay Kyogo is that even now most fans would say he\u2019s the best striker Celtic have had since Henrik Larsson. That was the chat this time last summer.<\/p>\n \u201cHe scored 85 goals in three-and-a-half seasons, he scored eight goals against Rangers, he single-handedly won two League Cup finals for Celtic – again, one of those was against Rangers.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was a special talent at Celtic and the fans took to him right away.\u201d<\/p>\n Blues manager Chris Davies<\/a> has two reference points for Kyogo in current Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers and his predecessor Ange Postecoglou \u2013 Davies has worked under both as an assistant.<\/p>\n Kyogo netted 31 goals in 18 months under Rodgers, but under Postecoglou he enjoyed a breath-taking 2022\/23 campaign which saw him score 34 times across all competitions.<\/p>\n \u201cHe prefers to play on the shoulder of the last defender, and the way Ange Postecoglou played his football it perfectly suited Kyogo. They played to his strengths,\u201d explained McDonald.<\/p>\n \u201cThe wingers would get to the by-line and cut it back, and Kyogo would be there to slot it in, or it would be clipped over the backline and Kyogo would be there to run on and score.<\/p>\n \u201cUnfortunately, in his third season and his last six months at the club, Brendan Rodgers came in and adapted his game slightly. As I said, Kyogo prefers to play on the shoulder, but Brendan asked him to play deeper to get him more involved in the game and I don\u2019t think that suited Kyogo at all. We didn\u2019t really see the best of him in his final 18 months at the club.\u201d<\/p>\n Kyogo quickly became a favourite of Celtic fans with a hat-trick in only his third appearance after joining from Vissel Kobe in 2021. His status as a cult hero was helped by a number of goals against Rangers.<\/p>\n McDonald added: \u201cHe was known as a big game player for Celtic. There were times when he might have touched the ball three or four times by 60 or 70 minutes, then he would come up with a moment of magic to win the game. That\u2019s the type of player he is.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s slight but he scored his fair share of headers and was never afraid to get stuck in. He\u2019s a special talent and it\u2019s a shame to see what\u2019s happened at Rennes.\u201d<\/p>\n Blues are scouring the market for attacking talent to give Davies options for next season, and Kyogo fits the bill.<\/p>\n The 23-cap Japan international would give Blues some added oomph up front \u2013 or indeed behind the main striker \u2013 in Davies\u2019 favoured 4-2-3-1 system. Kyogo is at his best in central areas.<\/p>\n Get the latest Blues headlines sent straight to your phone<\/p>\n BirminghamLive has its very own Birmingham City<\/a> WhatsApp community to deliver the latest headlines straight to your phone. Just click this link<\/a> to receive daily Blues content and breaking news. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don\u2019t like our community, you can check out any time you like. Click on the name at the top of your screen while in WhatsApp and click ‘Exit Group’. Read our Privacy Notice.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cIn Japan he also played as a left-winger. The only time I can recall him playing that role was one of his first derbies at Ibrox and it just didn\u2019t work out at all. He looked uncomfortable. Obviously you\u2019ve got the pressure of playing at Ibrox with 50-odd thousand fans screaming down your neck.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was the only time he played there. Ange Postecoglou recognised it and shouldered the blame for it. Ever since, he\u2019s played through the middle.\u201d<\/p>\n There is a caveat to what, on paper at least, has the makings of a very good deal. Kyogo has been troubled by a shoulder injury for some time that requires surgery.<\/p>\n Kyogo\u2019s shoulder would occasionally pop out during Celtic matches and limit his involvement, albeit not enough to prevent him from playing a minimum of 40 games in each of the past four seasons.<\/p>\n His former manager Rodgers estimated that the required surgery would rule Kyogo out of action for four months.<\/p>\n McDonald concluded: \u201cHe has an ongoing shoulder issue and at some stage down the line he will need to have an operation to get it fixed. He\u2019s been managing it and seems to be getting by, but it\u2019s something to keep an eye on.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Kyogo](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0_JS357413080.jpg\")
Kyogo Furuhashi was prolific at Celtic before joining Rennes in January<\/p>\n