It is one of the worst nightmares of any journalist. When a ‘just in case’ article that is written ahead of a potential development is accidentally published.
Typically, and mortifyingly, this tends to happen with obituaries. Back in 2020, a French news site prematurely released around 100 pre-written obits for famous figures ranging from The Queen to Pele.
In that context, the erroneous publication of a story on the official MLS website on Wednesday night, announcing that Atlanta United had secured the signing of Celtic striker Kyogo Furuhashi, wasn’t quite so serious. But reports of the Japanese striker’s departure from Glasgow seem to have been exaggerated nonetheless. At least for now.
Instead of jetting across the Atlantic, Kyogo was coming off the bench for Celtic in the second half of their victory over Dundee United at a freezing Celtic Park, replacing the ineffective Adam Idah.
Was this a case of smoke without fire? Or was there more to it? Atlanta United, managed by former Celtic boss Ronny Deila, have long been credited with an interest in Kyogo, and were reportedly preparing a £10m bid for the forward last month.
The announcement from the MLS may have been premature, or might simply have been a case of mistaken identity. Atlanta in fact did sign a Japanese striker on Wednesday evening, Cayman Togashi, after all. But it has certainly raised an interesting point of debate when it comes to Kyogo, and the Celtic frontline in general.
The prospect of allowing Kyogo to leave Celtic for anything less than double the reported fee Atlanta seem willing to shell out would have provoked incredulity not so long ago. But there is no doubt that the goals have rather dried up, and his form has dipped of late. Perhaps stretching back as far as the start of last season.
Certainly, the drop-off in his productivity has coincided with the arrival of Rodgers, and the potential causes for that were pored over ad nauseum last season. Often, to the disgruntlement of the Celtic manager, who insisted he wasn’t asking his striker to do anything differently than Ange Postecoglou had.
Rather, he put it down to injuries in the wide areas, and predicted that Kyogo’s output would return to the mean once normal service into the box was resumed. But even this season, with both Daizen Maeda and Nicolas Kuhn on fire from the flanks, neither Kyogo nor Idah, in fairness, have been pulling up any trees.
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Kyogo, in fact, has missed 15 ‘big chances’ this season, more than any other player in the league, though he has bagged 10 goals in his 28 appearances in all competitions. So, the service doesn't appear to be the issue.
That ratio though, while still creditable, has dropped off since Kyogo was in his pomp under Postecoglou. Kyogo has gone from around a goal every 1.5 games under the Australian, to a goal around every three games since.
Later this month, Kyogo will be 30. While his contract runs to the summer of 2027, the window for making a substantial profit on the striker is getting smaller. He has been a terrific servant to Celtic, but with all that in mind, would a move to Atlanta - with £10m coming in the opposite direction - not make perfect sense for Celtic?
At this particular juncture, it would be an almighty gamble.
Celtic’s largely impressive showings (Dortmund demolition apart) in the Champions League have left them in a strong position to advance to the play-off stage of the competition at the very least. This month, they have their final two league stage matches, against Young Boys at Celtic Park and then away to Aston Villa.
If they sell Kyogo – indifferent as his form lately has been – the club would be taking a huge risk. Yes, they may be able to make as much as £10m by allowing him to leave, and Celtic have rather made an art form of maximising profit on their assets. But they may be gambling with untold millions by allowing their safest bet to stand up on the big occasion depart before these crunch matches.
All things must pass, of course. Sadly, The Queen and Pele did eventually shuffle off this mortal coil. And one day – perhaps even one day in the near future – Kyogo will leave Celtic. It may even be immediately after the Villa game on January 29th.
But just ask the admin of the MLS website; doing something prematurely can leave you with regrets, and red faces all round.
