With rumours breaking out that Giorgos Giakoumakis is closing in on a move to J League side, Urawa Red Diamonds, it is clear that Celtic might need to bring in a striker as soon as possible. The Greek international might not have been starting games in recent weeks, but he remains a key member of the squad and a reliable option to bring off the bench.
If Giakoumakis did leave, Kyogo would be the only remaining striker in the squad, with Daizen Maeda capable of playing there if the situation calls for it. It is clear that that is not enough depth, especially considering the former Vissel Kobe star’s injury history.
One player that Celtic have been linked with heavily in recent times is Cho Gue-sung of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, whose reputation skyrocketed after his performances at the World Cup. It had looked like they were on the verge of losing the transfer race to Mainz, but now, there appears to be a twist in the tale.
As reported by Kicker, Mainz were interested in a transfer of Cho, but after researching the financial conditions, this interest quickly cooled down again.
Twist in Cho to Celtic transfer saga
Someone like Cho has the potential to be an excellent addition for Celtic. His performances at the World Cup for South Korea caught the eye, as he scored twice and was impressive with his overall play.
Cho has been brilliant at club level recently as well though. According to stats from Transfermarkt, he scored 21 goals and provided 5 assists in 35 appearances in the 2022 campaign.
At the same time, he has the physical attributes as well to be a good replacement for Giakoumakis and is a similar profile of player. Now, it remains to be seen if Celtic are able to get a deal done with Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors or not.