Why Celtic would sign the Iheanacho and Kyogo hybrid to end their search for strikers

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

Yes, rumors have suggested the Japanese striker could have been selected by Martin O’Neill and co, with the 31-year-old looking to end his Birmingham City woes early, after scoring just one league goal in 2025/26.

A move back to Parkhead isn’t always a smart bet, just ask Jota, but the truth is the Hoops are in dire need of a striker, amid the embarrassment of seeing Kelechi Iheanacho move elsewhere.

The Nigerian is on the books of Turkish second division club Bursaspor, and for Celtic, it is yet another tumultuous summer for the club. Has anyone seen the striker?

How Celtic got it all wrong after Kyogo was sold

To say that Kyogo’s departure cost him would be a challenge, as the former Vissel Kobe headed to France to strengthen his hopes of entering the World Cup in Japan.

He was largely overlooked during the competition, however, failing to score at all in Ligue 1, while enjoying a painful solitary season in the EFL Championship.

As for Celtic, there is no one to replace him in January, while Brendan Rodgers was forced to watch as Adam Idah sealed a final move to Swansea City in the summer.

That unexpected exit forced Rodgers to bring in Iheanacho in a post-deadline deal, with the Nigerian scoring nine goals in 24 outings, despite starting just four Premiership games.

Fellow summer arrival Callum Osmand secured his own club following his final-day heroics, despite a big injury-hit season for the lad, while Shin Yamada, was sent off for a second successive loan after failing to score the club’s competitive goal.

With recent loan signings Junior Adamu and Tomas Cvancara scoring just three goals between them, there is more pain in the ongoing search for strikers.

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

Celtic could swoop for Kyogo for £7m

As mentioned, Kyogo himself is said to be keen on a return to Glasgow, although the striker has had a miserable spell since signing on the dotted line with LA Galaxy, with Birmingham looking to get him off the books.

It could be a similar story in relation to long-term target Kasper Hogh, with Norwegian firm Avisa Nordland revealing that the 25-year-old has held good talks over a possible summer exit.

Indeed, his current side, Bodo/Glimt, are believed to be willing to cash in, as long as any suitors meet their £7m asking price.

This was followed by a report by Football Insider, which revealed that Celtic were negotiating with this Scandinavian club regarding a possible deal.

Considering Celtic have only paid Yamada (£1.5m) since Kyogo’s exit, now may be the time to invest well in a top striker, someone who will come to the club with real momentum behind them.

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

Hogh, a man Celtic were chasing in January, has been in similar form in recent years, with his record for Bodo standing at 54 from 103 games so far.

Similar to Kyogo, who had only worked in Japan before moving to Scotland, Hogh has not played outside of Scandinavia until now, although at the age of 25, now would be a good time to jump.

He is a true hunter, a man who thrives in the opposition penalty box, very similar to Kyogo in that sense, with all 17 of his goals in Norway’s top flight in 2025 coming from the penalty area.

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

Like Kyogo, he doesn’t need to be heavily involved in the proceedings, but he thrives when given a chance in the area.

Iheanacho, while an elite finisher in his own right, is more prone to losing deep play and linking up, although he mirrors Hogh in terms of what they offer physically.

Kyogo at his best was all about movement and speed, while Hogh is perhaps more similar to Iheanacho as a true number nine, an older, focal point who can lead the line alone.

Such quality was evident last term as the £7m striker led the Norwegian side to the Champions League final, scoring five goals in just 12 appearances in the competition.

In Iheanacho’s case, he has only enjoyed a spell in Europe’s top competition, scoring two goals in seven games so far.

Essentially, Hogh has the poaching skills of Kyogo in his brilliance, and is also in the center of a traditional striker like Iheanacho.

This combination could be fatal if he wants to move to Glasgow.