In a recent report, Sunsport named Celtic among a host of clubs chasing the signing of South Korea’s World Cup star Cho Gue-sung. However, if the sources from Hungary (as claimed by the Daily Record) are believed to be true, Ferencvaros are also keeping close tabs on the hitman’s availability in the winter window.
This came to light following South Korea FA vice-president Lee Young-pyo’s comments. He was contacted by a former colleague of Borussia Dortmund days (in 2008-09) who is currently in charge of a ‘very good club’ in Europe. This has shifted the focus on the green-white club of Budapest where Tamas Hajnal is performing his duties as the sporting director.
Hajnal and Lee played together at the Westfalenstadion, whereas Sebastian Kehl’s name is also in the mix as he had an illustrious playing career between 2002 and 2015. He replaced Michael Zorc as the new BVB sporting director earlier this summer, but there is no such report suggesting their interest in Gue-sung.
Why Celtic Should Rope In The ‘Number 9’
Meanwhile, Celtic might allow Giorgos Giakoumakis to part ways if a new improved contract can’t be agreed upon in the coming days. The talks have stalled for the Greek centre-forward who has fired in 25 goals in 50 appearances since completing a transfer from VVV-Venlo last summer.
Amid uncertainties over his future, Ange Postecoglo could once again explore his contacts to raid the Asian market. He has already roped in five Japanese stars (Kyogo Furuhashi, Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate, Yosuke Ideguchi and Yuki Kobayashi) whom he monitored closely during his managerial stint with Yokohama F. Marinos, and the 24-year-old Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors striking sensation is in contention to become their first South Korean recruit during the Aussie boss’s regime.
Gue-sung spent his youth and college years with FC Anyang and Gwangju University. He began his career as a defensive midfielder but was later switched to a ‘number 9’ role by his university’s manager Lee Seung-won. He returned to Anyang in 2019 who were competing in K League 2 and his impressive scoring record earned him a transfer to Jeonbuk in the top tier of South Korean football.
Although 2020 did not go as per plan as he struggled for goals while spearheading the attack, a draft stint with Gimcheon Sangmu saw him developing both physically as well as technically before returning to Jeonju. The attacker served his military duties at Gimcheon and the hardship in training helped him become the top scorer of the 2022 K League 1 campaign.
Gue-sung is in the news for his brace against Ghana on Monday evening. His suitors would monitor him closely when South Korea will lock horns with mighty Brazil in the Round of 16 and Celtic, therefore, must do all the groundwork to tie him down as soon as the window reopens in January.
