Latest news with #Rennes
Scottish Sun
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Ex-Celtic star Kyogo linked with shock move to English club which would see him be reunited with international team-mate
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FORMER Celtic star Kyogo Furuhashi is being linked with a surprise move to Championship side Birmingham City. That's according to reports in Japan, where it is being claimed the 30-year-old striker is ready to end his nightmare spell in Rennes and try his luck in England's second tier. Sign up for the Celtic newsletter Sign up 2 Kyogo in action for Celtic Credit: Getty 2 Kyogo celebrates with Jota at Celtic Credit: PA If the move does go through it would see him join up with his ex-Celtic team-mate and compatriot Tomoki Iwata, and former Celtic assistant Chris Davies who is the current Birmingham boss. But they are not the first English club to be linked with the Japan international, who will be keen to get first-team football with next year's World Cup on the horizon. The report from Sponichi Annex claims several European clubs are interested in his services, but that Birmingham are leading the chase for his signature as they look to return to the Premier League. It is also claimed that Kyogo himself is said to be positive about the transfer. Having been frozen out at Rennes, playing just six games since signing for the French club in January, Kyogo was linked with a move to Bournemouth last month by French outlet Le Parisien. And he has also been linked with a return to Celtic but that move looks unlikely to happen. The striker still has two years left on his deal at the Ligue 1 side with manager Habib Beye insisting the former Celtic hero is still part of his plans. He said: "Even if he doesn't get the minutes he would like, he is an integral part of my squad. "Kyogo's lack of playing time doesn't mean he doesn't meet my expectations, otherwise he wouldn't be in the squad and he wouldn't come on as a sub. "He's a quality player and he will bring something to the team, I'm convinced of that." Kyogo leaves Celtic fans heartbroken as he leads wild fan celebrations after new club debut Before that Kyogo made himself a fans favourite at Celtic, winning three Premiership titles, three League Cups and two Scottish Cups during his three-and-a-half years at the club. After scoring 85 goals for Celtic, he left for French side Rennes in a £10 million deal in January 2025 but he's endured a difficult time. Meanwhile, Celtic are reportedly locked in talks with Antwerp over a potential deal for winger Michel-Ange Balikwisha. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Glasgow Times
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Ex-Celtic star Kyogo tipped for shock Birmingham City move
The 30-year-old left Celtic Park six months ago to join Rennes in Ligue 1 for around £10 million. However, his time in France hasn't gone as planned, and he has fallen down the pecking order. Now, Japanese news outlet Sponichi Annex claims that Kyogo is likely to move to England's second tier to play for Birmingham City. This would see him reunited with former Celtic teammate Tomoki Iwata and working under head coach Chris Davies. It's reported that the former Hoops player is keen to explore a move to England. Birmingham City won League One last season and are aiming for back-to-back promotions. With the 2026 World Cup approaching, Kyogo will need regular playtime to secure a spot in Japan's squad.
The National
12 hours ago
- Sport
- The National
Ex-Celtic star Kyogo 'set' for shock Birmingham transfer
The 30-year-old left Celtic Park just six months ago. He joined Rennes in Ligue 1 for around £10m, which essentially saw Jota move in the opposite direction to Glasgow. However, the Japanese forward's move quickly tuned sour, which saw him fall down the pecking order in France. Now, Japanese news outlet Sponichi Annex claim that Kyogo is likely to make the move to England's second tier to play for Birmingham. Here, he would reunite with former Celtic teammate Tomoki Iwata, and work under head coach Chris Davies. Read more: It's said that the ex-Hoops man is keen to explore a move to England. Big-spending Birmingham won League One at a canter last season. While much harder this time around, they will be aiming to achieve back-to-back promotions by reaching the Premier League in 12 months' time. With the 2026 World Cup also approaching in the next year, Kyogo needs to get himself back playing if he wants to be included in Japan's squad.
Daily Record
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Kyogo set for surprising transfer as Celtic hero 'lined up' for Birmingham City move by Brendan Rodgers ally
The Hoops sold the hitman for £10million to Rennes in January but he could be set to move again inside six months Kyogo could be set for a surprising move to Birmingham City this summer. The Celtic star left in a big £10million deal to Rennes in January but the move turned sour very quickly for the former Hoops favourite with his match action very minimal as he fell down the pecking order at the Ligue 1 side. Now Japanese news outlet Sponichi Annex are claiming that the 30-year-old is likely to make the move to England's second tier where he would team up with Chris Davies and former Celtic team-mate Tomoki Iwata. They state several European clubs are keen on Kyogo's services but the Blues are the most enthusiastic as they aim to return to the English Premier League. Kyogo himself is also reported to be positive about the transfer to the English side. The former Celtic striker needs to get himself back playing with the World Cup next year. To be included in Japan's squad he would need to be playing consistently once again and a move to Birmingham would open that door. The Blues won English League One with relative ease last term and set records along the way. Now they are hoping to make a splash in the second tier as they look to complete the journey back to the big time. Kyogo was a huge success at Celtic after Ange Postecoglou brought him to Glasgow. He netted 85 goals in 165 games for the Scottish champions. You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers and Celtic pages, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We're also WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to you phone. Join our Rangers community here and our Celtic community here.
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Kylian Mbappe 'approved Liverpool transfer' before Man City stepped in
Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe once gave the thumbs up for Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool to land a player they had been chasing for years, only for Manchester City to swoop in and have the last word Back in the summer of 2023, everything looked like it was falling into place for Belgian winger Jeremy Doku to join Liverpool. Chief amongst the wheel greasing to make the switch a reality was the ringing endorsement of Kylian Mbappe himself. Doku ultimately moved to Manchester City in August 2023. However, the Belgian's jump to the Premier League could've been with the Reds and Jurgen Klopp instead, had the Anfield side managed to outmuscle their rivals for the skilful star. Reports emerged in France, just prior to Doku's move to the Etihad, that Klopp held a 'strong interest' in the midfielder. His performances for Rennes were so impressive during his three-year stint there that he caught the eye of former PSG hotshot Mbappe. "Recently, I was speaking with my father about a player who impressed me because of his speed qualities, that is Doku, at Rennes," Mbappe said in June 2021. "In five years as a professional, I have never seen someone from a standing start demonstrate so much power." Doku, now 23, was enjoying his most prolific season for Rennes. His form had helped the French side to a fourth-placed finish in Ligue 1, securing a place in the Europa League group stage. Overall, he had netted 12 goals in 92 appearances for the Ligue 1 side, after originally starting his career in Belgium with Anderlecht. Klopp's interest in the youngster was growing stronger. His desire to land the player was actually the German's second bite of the cherry too, after Doku and his father were previously invited to Merseyside back in 2017 to tour Liverpool's training facilities. The winger's father, David, even detailed how Liverpool turned on a huge charm offensive to land his son. "Klopp explained how he saw a potential successor in Jeremy," he told Het Nieuwsblad in 2020. "Steven Gerrard showed us videos with tactical analysis. At the training complex [Simon, former goalkeeper] Mignolet, [Sadio] Mane and [Gini] Wijnaldum came to talk to us. How we were received there – damn!" Yet Doku himself believed the move may have been a case of too much too soon. Via Het Nieuwsblad, he said in 2021: "I did a lot of research first, wrote down all the positive points and only then did I make a decision. I knew that I first wanted to make an intermediate step. Going to a top club now would be too soon." Amid the Reds' pursuit, Doku's move to City was perhaps being subtly engineered from other quarters. The player received a telling thumbs up from his Belgian team-mate and now former City star, Kevin De Bruyne, as Pep Guardiola began to pivot his attention to the young star. Speaking after the forward had scored his first international goal, De Bruyne said: "He [Doku] is nimble, fast and he can dribble. Of course, he sometimes makes a mistake, but who doesn't? He is a diamond in the rough." City pushed their title rivals aside and secured Doku on a five-year deal for a reported £55.5million. "This is a great day for me, both personally and professionally," Doku said upon signing at the Etihad Stadium. "City are the best team in world football, so joining them is special." Despite what could have been, it would be surprising if the Belgian had any doubts over his move. Doku clinched the Premier League title and FIFA Club World Cup under Pep Guardiola in his first season. He has so far scored 13 goals in 82 games for the Citizens.
