Why Celtic could sign an Iheanacho and Kyogo hybrid to end striker search

18 months on from selling Kyogo Furuhashi to Rennes on a £10m deal, there was talk that Scottish champions Celtic would finally fill that void by, well, re-signing Kyogo.

Yes, the rumour mill had suggested that the Japanese striker was an option for Martin O’Neill and co, with the 31-year-old seeking to end his Birmingham City misery early, after scoring just a solitary league goal in 2025/26.

Returning to Parkhead isn’t always a wise bet, just ask Jota, but the fact remains that the Hoops are in desperate need of a striker, amid the ignominy of seeing Kelechi Iheanacho move elsewhere.

The Nigerian is now on the books at Turkish second division side, Bursaspor, while for Celtic, it’s another setback in another chaotic summer for the club. Has anyone seen a striker?

How Celtic got it all wrong after Kyogo’s sale

To say Kyogo’s departure has backfired would be an understatement, with the ex-Vissel Kobe star heading to France in order to boost his hopes of making Japan’s World Cup squad

He wasn’t even a consideration when the tournament did roll around, however, having failed to score at all in Ligue 1, while also enjoying a miserable solitary season in the EFL Championship.

As for Celtic, well, no replacement was signed that January, while Brendan Rodgers was forced to watch on as Adam Idah sealed a last-gasp move to Swansea City over the summer.

That surprise exit forced Rodgers to bring in Iheanacho on a post-deadline-day deal, the Nigerian subsequently scoring nine goals in 24 outings, albeit while starting only four Premiership games.

Fellow summer arrival Callum Osmand did secure cult status of his own following his final-day heroics, although it was largely a season of injury woe for the youngster, while as for Shin Yamada, he has been shipped out on a second successive loan after failing to score a competitive goal for the club.

With recent loan signings Junior Adamu and Tomas Cvancara scoring only three times between them, there’s been yet more pain in this ongoing striker search.

Hopefully, before this summer is out, the Parkhead hierarchy will finally put that to bed.

Celtic could finally replace Kyogo with £7m signing

As stated, Kyogo himself was said to be keen on a return to Glasgow, albeit with the diminutive striker since signing on the dotted line with LA Galaxy, with Birmingham seemingly keen to get him off the books.

It might well be a similar story with regard to long-term target, Kasper Hogh, with Norwegian outlet Avisa Nordland revealing that the 25-year-old has held positive talks regarding a potential summer exit.

Indeed, his current side, Bodo/Glimt, are believed to be willing to cash in, provided any suitor meets their £7m asking price.

That has been followed up by a report from Football Insider, who revealed that Celtic have been in direct talks with the Scandinavian side regarding a potential deal.

Considering Celtic have only paid a fee for Yamada (£1.5m) since Kyogo’s exit, now might be the time to finally invest properly in a premium striker, someone who would actually arrive at the club with real momentum behind them.

That was certainly the case with regard to Kyogo back in 2021, the £4.6m man becoming Ange Postecoglou’s first signing, having scored 49 in 111 games for his former employers.

Hogh, a man whom Celtic were chasing in January, has been in similarly red-hot form in recent years, his overall record for Bodo standing at 54 in 103 games to date.

Similarly to Kyogo, who had only plied his trade in Japan before moving to Scotland, Hogh hasn’t played outside of Scandinavia as yet, although at 25, now might be the perfect time to take the leap.

He’s a true poacher, someone who thrives in the opposition penalty box, very much like Kyogo in that sense, with all 17 of his goals in Norway’s top-flight in 2025 coming inside the penalty area.

Hogh currently boasts a tally of seven goals in just 12 league games in 2026, while he scored 12 in 11 starts in 2024, notably averaging just 14.7 touches per game that year.

Like Kyogo, he doesn’t need to be involved too greatly in proceedings, yet comes alive when given a sniff of a chance in the area.

Iheanacho, while an elite finisher himself, is more inclined to drop deep and link play, although he does mirror Hogh in terms of what they offer physically.

Kyogo at his best was all about movement and speed, while Hogh is perhaps more akin to Iheanacho as a true, old-fashioned number nine, a focal point who can lead the line on his own.

Such quality was seen last term as the £7m-rated striker led the Norwegian outfit into the last eight of the Champions League, having scored five goals in just 12 appearances in the competition.

In Iheanacho’s case, he’s only enjoyed a fleeting spell in Europe’s premier competition too, scoring two goals in seven games to date.

In essence, Hogh has the poaching prowess of Kyogo in his pomp, yet while also more in the mould of a traditional centre-forward like the recently departed Iheanacho.

That combination could well prove deadly if he is to seal a move to Glasgow.