Manchester City fans will welcome Ilkay Gundogan back to the club – but there may well be another addition before next Friday’s transfer deadline.
City are expected to confirm the signing of Gundogan very soon, after a crazy past few days.
The player’s future came into real doubt over the weekend, with reports suggesting Barcelona were ready to offload him after just one season.
Fabrizio Romano has now reported Gundogan to City is as good as done, and the player was even spotted at the airport on Wednesday.
But Pep Guardiola may not stop at Gundogan before next Friday’s deadline.
Celtic forward Kyogo Furuhashi is reportedly a player of interest to City. And what Ange Postecoglou said about the player previously will surely have Pep intrigued.
Ange Postecoglou has already explained why ‘winner’ Kyogo Furuhashi could be perfect for Man City
Apparently, City are considering a potential move for Japan international Kyogo Furuhashi.
City could do with another body following the recent sale of Julian Alvarez, and Kyogo is a player Pep actually got to see up close recently, when City and Celtic met in the US for pre-season.
Kyogo scored in Celtic’s 4-3 win.
Kyogo, 21, joined Celtic in 2021 and has scored 73 goals in 135 matches for the Scottish giants. He has also laid on 16 assists.
He is a popular figure at Parkhead, and he is a player who has come in for high praise from current Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou in the past.
Kyogo was signed on Postecoglou’s watch in 2021, and he made some interesting comments about the attacker just before leaving the club to become manager of Spurs.
Speaking in April 2023, he said of Kyogo (via Belfast Telegraph): “I’ve said it a few times, from the moment this guy arrived he’s been outstanding.
“He gives everything in every game he plays, he’s a threat. If he doesn’t score a goal he works so hard for the team. He delivers in the big games.
“There’s not much of him out there and he’s up against big strong defenders who get very physical with him at times.
“But make no mistake, he’s a winner. I’ve seen it first-hand.
“He wants that responsibility to rise to the occasion. He wants to be the person who delivers and he did it again today. I knew what he had to bring, not just as a player but as a person. He’s outstanding.”
Kyogo could be perfect
These past comments from Postecoglou really do suggest Kyogo as being a great addition for City.
In order to play in a Pep Guardiola team, the first thing you need to be is hardworking. You can be the most skilful player in the world, but you won’t be picked to play if you don’t work hard and have good tactical discipline.
‘He’s a winner’ is an encouraging line. Obviously, City’s dressing room is absolutely packed with them, so he would fit right in in that sense.
Postecoglou has also touched on Kyogo away from the pitch, saying he is outstanding as a person.
Only the other day, Pep spoke about how much he loved his players
