Sources: Birmingham City make Kyogo Furuhashi transfer decision after Celtic interest
Birmingham City have no intention of allowing Kyogo Furuhashi to leave the club after recent interest from Celtic, sources have told Football Insider.
The Japan international ended his 24-game goal drought by finding the back of the net in his team’s FA Cup win over Cambridge this weekend, and Birmingham are hopeful that the goal can provide him with the confidence to turn his form around.
Football Insider revealed in December that Celtic were interested in re-signing Kyogo, but their recent advances have come to nothing, and sources have now indicated that the frontman is keen to prove his worth at St Andrew’s.
The 30-year-old moved to the Championship outfit in the summer and is still waiting for his first league goal, but the club are hoping that his efforts against Cambridge can provide a springboard for improvement moving forward.
Celtic remain “desperate” to add another striker to their ranks before the end of the window, but will now be forced to look elsewhere to find their new man.
Kyogo Furuhashi to push Marvin Ducksch for his place at Birmingham
Birmingham look set to keep Kyogo after Celtic’s efforts to take him back north of the border ultimately fell through, and he will be keen to get a bigger involvement in the second half of the campaign.
The attacker has started just seven league games since his move to Birmingham in the summer, and manager Chris Davies has a wealth of options to choose from at the top of the pitch.
Marvin Ducksch has tended to be his preferred option to lead the line so far this term, and the big German is in strong form, having scored three goals in his last two games.
However, Kyogo’s latest exploits will have provided food for thought for Davies as he looks to guide the team up the table and towards the play-off positions.
If the former Rennes man can begin to play with a little more confidence after ending his drought in front of goal, then it could be enough to see him get more regular gametime in the run-in to the end of the season.
Kyogo’s hand to be strengthened by imminent Ipswich move
Football Insider revealed last week that Ipswich will target Birmingham’s Lyndon Dykes in the January window, should they fail to sign Patrick Bamford.
The Tractor Boys have now been beaten to Bamford’s signature by Sheffield United, and will now turn their attention towards making a move for Dykes imminently as a result.
The former QPR star has managed just two league starts all season for Birmingham after their promotion from League One, and his departure would also play perfectly into the hands of Kyogo.
Dykes’ exit would mean one less striker for the ex-Celtic man to compete with, which should increase the chances of Davies showing a little more faith in him for the remainder of the campaign.