Celtic are undergoing another busy window as they have already roped in Yuki Kobayashi, Tomoki Iwata and Alistair Johnston. But they are not done yet with several other names being linked over a potential winter swoop. Cho Gue-sung is one of them and according to Naver Sports, his agent has now confirmed the Hoops’ talks.
The 24-year-old South Korean international grabbed the attention for his exquisite performance in last month’s FIFA World Cup. He also became the highest scorer of the 2022 K League 1 campaign and his emergence has convinced Ange Postecoglou to make an ambitious move despite rumoured interest from Fenerbahce and Stade Rennes.
Gue-sung had a brief youth stint with FC Anyang before pursuing his college career at Gwangju University. There he was converted into a centre-forward after failing to leave a mark as a defensive midfielder. The youngster rejoined Anyang in 2019 to develop his career in K League 2 and his impressive scoring streak earned him a transfer to top-tier outfit Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.
However, the striking ace struggled to settle in K League 1 during his initial days. He joined the military team Gimcheon Sangmu on draft in 2021 and the spell helped him grow both physically as well as technically before returning to Jeonbuk in September. Gue-sung not only maintained his scoring form but also contributed to their Korean FA Cup triumph defeating FC Seoul in the final (5-3 on aggregate). He scored three goals across two legs exhibiting his mastery while spearheading the attack.
Celtic target Cho Gue-sungMeanwhile, Celtic are yet to match Jeonbuk’s valuation of £2.2m for their prized asset. The Bhoys’ proposed fee has not met the expectations of the Korean side, but the player’s willingness to move abroad might see all parties finding a common ground in the coming days.
Why Celtic Must Rope Him In
The Far East contains an exciting yet unexplored talent pool for quite some time and Postecoglou is aware of the same given his managerial years in Japan with Yokohama F. Marinos. He has roped in an array of Japanese stars since his appointment as the Parkhead chief and the majority of his signings have done a tremendous job by attuning to the aggression of Scottish football.
The Hoops are ready to listen to offers for Giorgos Giakoumakis. The Greek ‘number 9’ decided not to extend his Celtic contract and the gaffer, too, has mostly deployed him as a late substitute since the league resumed in Scotland a couple of weeks back.
Gue-sung, on the other hand, should fit in Postecoglou’s free-flowing ‘Angeball’ thanks to his pace, flair, work rate and link-up play in and around the attacking third. He would be rotated alongside Kyogo Furuhashi to form a formidable frontline and the club, therefore, must match the demanded figure before the other suitors tie him down in the due course of time.
