Celtic manager Martin O’Neill has expressed skepticism regarding a potential return of striker Kyogo Furuhashi to the club, indicating that the forward is focused on proving himself at Birmingham City. O’Neill’s comments come amid ongoing discussions between Celtic and Birmingham about a loan move for the Japanese international, who previously excelled at Parkhead, contributing significantly to Celtic’s success.
Furuhashi, who made a £10 million transfer to Rennes in January 2023, has struggled to find his footing after moving to Birmingham City during the summer transfer window, managing to score only once in competitive play. Despite his past success at Celtic, where he won four league titles and five national cups, O’Neill believes Furuhashi is committed to his current club. “I would have said that [a move] would probably be unlikely,” O’Neill noted. “I think everything’s premature. I think there is a viewpoint that he wants to really prove himself at Birmingham.”
O’Neill, who recently returned to Celtic following the departure of Wilfried Nancy, is focused on strengthening his squad to remain competitive in the title race. He acknowledged that the club is actively pursuing new signings, indicating a sense of urgency as the season progresses. “We’re doing plenty of work on it, seriously,” he stated. “We are doing that there and hopefully trying to get a few players in. There’s a lot of work going on at the moment. I think that we are well aware that we have to supplement the squad.”
As the competition intensifies, Rangers recently secured a victory over Aberdeen, placing them three points ahead of Celtic, despite having played one match more. Meanwhile, Hearts currently lead the standings, holding a six-point advantage over the defending champions. Recognizing the need to bolster the team, O’Neill insisted on the importance of making timely acquisitions. “I think it will be crucial,” he emphasized. “I think it’s really important for us as well to get some people in to supplement the squad.”
O’Neill also addressed speculation surrounding the future of Celtic captain Callum McGregor, who has been linked with a possible move to Saudi Arabia to reunite with former manager Brendan Rodgers. The Celtic manager underscored McGregor’s significance to the team, stating, “If you’re asking me, would he go in this transfer window, that would be a major shock. A major disappointment for me. I don’t think we could cope with that.”
As Celtic prepares for the challenges ahead, the focus remains on enhancing the squad while navigating a competitive landscape. The coming weeks will be critical as O’Neill aims to secure the necessary reinforcements to keep Celtic in contention for the title.
