Celtic fans have been left deflated since it emerged that Kelechi Iheanacho would not be returning to the club on a new deal, after the option to extend his contract for another year was allowed to expire.

For many, it felt like that was a deal which was only a matter of time. So, the failure to find an agreement with the striker has been viewed as the failure to meet even minimum expectations.

The striker department has most certainly been weakened. The possibility that Daizen Maeda could join Iheanacho out the exit door is cause for further worry.

Amid all this, speculation has risen that Kyogo Furuhashi could be eyeing a return to Celtic this summer, as he is expected to depart Birmingham City.

Celtic fans have not been particularly pleased with the rumour. For many, bringing back Kyogo would represent reuniting with a former player who is no longer at his best.

Football moves fast. Kyogo Furuhashi has endured a terrible time since leaving Celtic. His spell at Rennes was a flop and the one at Birmingham City has not been any better.

Overall, Kyogo has scored just three goals since his Celtic exit. For a player who scored 85 times in the green-and-white jersey, that is a poor return.

Yet, to me, the Kyogo rumour does make sense. Just look at what the club have lost with Iheanacho.

Iheanacho brought an ability to find the back of the net as well as experience to the table. Those are the same things Kyogo would as well.

Do not let his goal record since leaving Celtic cloud the fact that he never scored fewer than 19 goals in a full season for the Hoops. Just for comparison, Maeda managed 17 in the previous campaign, when he was the deciding factor to winning the league and cup double.

Camilo Duran is showing a ton of promise in pre-season. Bringing in Kyogo to compete with him might not be the worst idea in the world at all.

The Hoops also have Callum Osmand, who played very little last season due to injury but showed promise whenever he did get on the pitch.

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Of course, there have been links with Kasper Hogh as well. But considering how similar transfer sagas have turned out in the recent past, it does not feel like Celtic have a great chance of pulling it off.

Signing Kyogo feels more realistic. And let's not forget, he is still just 31 years of age. On paper, he is still very much in his prime.

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