Celtic are set to say goodbye to a fan favourite with Kyogo Furuhashi on the verge of joining Rennes a day after the club secured qualification to the knockout phase of the Champions League. It is a decision that might not go down well with a large section of the fanbase. After all, the Japanese international was still the club's first-choice striker and was starting regularly.
Their other option up top is Adam Idah, who is on a 14-game goalless run. Is that who Celtic want to lead their line as they aim to win the Premiership and the Scottish Cup and hopefully get a positive result in the knockout phase of the Champions League?
It remains to be seen if Celtic end up signing another striker. On the other hand, the speculation about Jota potentially returning to the club could hint at their future direction.
As reported by Sky Sports, Celtic would be open to a return for Jota, who has been frozen out at Rennes. The Hoops are exploring the possibility of a deal for the Portuguese winger, separately.
Sky Sports confirm Celtic's stance on Jota return
Jota left Celtic in the summer of 2023. He has struggled since then, first at Al-Ittihad and then at Rennes.
One cannot overlook his magnificent record in a Celtic shirt though. As a result, a return to Parkhead might make sense for both the club and the player. He is still 25 years of age and it could be the perfect move for him to bring his career back on track.
Also, is this a sign that Celtic could shift Daizen Maeda to striker following the departure of Kyogo? That is the role that he played for Yokohama F. Marinos in Japan and found great success. Also, he has already scored 15 goals this season from the wing. So, that is a possibility worth considering.