Celtic is on the verge of losing Matt O’Riley to Brighton & Hove Albion in a significant £30 million transfer deal. As the Scottish Premiership club prepares for this departure, Chris Sutton has issued a stark warning: Celtic should be cautious about letting go of Kyogo Furuhashi as well, especially with the transfer deadline looming.
Manchester City is reportedly interested in acquiring Furuhashi to provide backup for their star striker, Erling Haaland, with Celtic said to be open to a sale if the right offer—around £20 million—is presented. Despite securing Republic of Ireland forward Adam Idah to strengthen their attacking options, Celtic could find it overwhelming to replace both O’Riley and Furuhashi, two of their key players in the final third. Sutton hopes the club will avoid such a scenario.
Sutton shared his concerns with the Daily Record, expressing that losing O’Riley is already a difficult situation for Celtic supporters. However, the potential loss of Furuhashi would be even more alarming. “The idea of losing O’Riley this summer has been hard for fans to accept,” Sutton commented. “But losing Kyogo too would be unimaginable. Celtic should not even consider letting him go under any circumstances. There’s been a lot of talk about O’Riley, and people are starting to come to terms with his likely exit. But Kyogo is a different story altogether. The recent speculation about Manchester City’s interest has understandably caused panic among fans. The thought of losing two top players as the transfer window closes is deeply unsettling.”
Furuhashi is keen on joining Manchester City but is not expected to formally request a transfer if Celtic declines their offers. The club’s decision might ultimately hinge on whether they find the financial incentive too tempting to pass up. Although Celtic stands to earn substantial revenue from their Champions League involvement this season, the board might still prioritize financial gain over player retention, potentially leading to Furuhashi’s departure.
As the transfer window edges closer to its end, Celtic fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if the club manages to keep Furuhashi or if financial considerations will prevail. The outcome will significantly impact the team’s prospects for the season.