Kyogo Furuhashi: Celtic striker set for £10m move to Rennes with Jota close to £8m Hoops return (2025)

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has confirmed deals involving Kyogo Furuhashi and Jota should be completed within the next 24 hours.

Japan international Kyogo is in France to finalise his move to Rennes in a £10m deal, with Rodgers revealing that the 30-year-old requested to leave the Scottish champions many months ago.

The Celtic boss also added he will look to add another striker to his ranks before the transfer window shuts on February 3.

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Jota meanwhile is set to return to Parkhead 18 months after his £25m exit for the Saudi Pro League, with Rodgers insisting he would be an "absolutely incredible addition."

The 25-year-old attacker struggled to settle at At Ittihad and then moved to France, where he failed to nail down a regular first-team spot at Rennes.

However, Rodgers is looking forward to linking up with the player for the first time as Celtic look to finalise a £8m move.

"He was one player that when I was coming back the first time, I was really, really looking forward to working with," he said.

"I'd seen him play for Celtic, of course, and seen the impact that he made in terms of creating goals, scoring goals.

"Virtually before I arrived, it was very clear that he was gone. That was disappointing.

"The challenge always is, and I know through first-hand experience, is that when you've created a legacy, lots of people will tell you to come back and maybe for that to be dented in any way.

"My feeling and advice to him was, come back and grow that legacy to be even greater now through first-hand experience, is that when you've created a legacy lots of people will tell you not to come back.

"He's got an undoubted quality. He's still got things he can prove to develop, but he's still young. If that comes through, then I'll be really excited to work with him."

Kyogo wanted to join club in Europe's top five leagues

Kyogo has been a key player for the Hoops since arriving in Scotland in the summer of 2021 under Ange Postecoglou.

Despite that, Brendan Rodgers confirmed the striker asked to leave for "a new challenge" with his form for Celtic not always been recognised by Japan boss Hajime Moriyasu.

"Kyogo had expressed an interest to leave a number of months back and then that expression becomes stronger and then it gets to the stage where he clearly very wants to leave," Rodgers said.

"Then, sadly, we have to then do a deal and look to finalise that for him. He's been an incredible player for the club for the three and a half years he's been here and he's not someone that we wanted to lose, but we have to accept where he's at.

"You can achieve many things here at Celtic. The league might not be one of the top five leagues in the world, but this is a league where you can really develop and show your talent at the very highest level.

"When I arrived here, Kyogo hadn't scored a goal in the Champions League. If he leaves, he's then shown that he can play at that level.

"The Japanese squad, there's obviously many really good players in there, but I think that you can show that by being here and winning and playing the type of football that we play and playing at the highest level, that you can still achieve everything that you would like to."

Boyd: Kyogo exit will worry Celtic fans

Ex-Rangers striker Kris Boyd speaking on Sky Sports News:

"The one for me - and I think it would worry the Celtic fans - would be Kyogo leaving.

"He has been the difference in a lot of games this season and he scores big goals. I get the fact that he's probably getting to the stage of his career where he wants to have one last big move, maybe earn top dollar, but Celtic, they're not going to break their model for anyone and for them to get £10m is good business.

"But goal scorers are hard to come by and Kyogo definitely falls into that category."

Celtic hold initial talks to sign Barry

Celtic have held initial talks over a possible deal for Louie Barry - but Aston Villa remain reluctant to sell the player and have offered him a new contract.

Villa prefer to keep Barry and loan him out for his development - and he has interest from most of the Championship and several clubs abroad.

Barry was recalled from his loan at Stockport earlier this month for Unai Emery to take a closer look and assess his readiness for first-team football.