29-05-2025
Kyogo future tackled head on as Celtic await 'likely' Balikwisha exit and Hatate price tag 'named'
The Scottish champions are facing a busy summer as they prepare to defend their Premiership crown
Stade Rennes' chairman Arnaud Pouille insists there is "no opposition" to Kyogo Furuhashi being included in the squad for next season.
The comments come amid reports that the former Celtic star will be left out of Habib Beye's 25-man unit that he takes into pre-season.
The frontman made his £10million move to Ligue 1 in January when boss Jorge Sampoali was at the helm - with sporting director Frederic Massara negotiating the deal.
But since the departure of both allies for the Japan international, the 30-year-old struggled to even make the matchday squad in the final weeks of the season - and has yet to find the net for his new club.
Amid reports that Premier League side Bournemouth are considering a bid for the misfit, Pouille told Ouest-France that there was no issues over the striker's long-term future.
He said: 'Kyogo was an element on which Frederic and Jorge agreed, we discussed him with Habib around January 27 or 28, if I remember correctly, and there was no opposition from Habib to integrate him into the squad.
'Afterwards, there was a system of competition. In one of his first matches, he got injured and then his place was taken by the emergence of Kader Meite, which remains good news for Stade Rennes.'
Elsewhere, reports in Belgium suggest that Royal Antwerp expect winger Michel-Ange Balikwisha to leave this summer.
Celtic have long been admirers of a £6million-rated wide man who has earned rave reviews - after chipping in with two goals and four assists in the final five games of the campaign.
Voetbal Primeur state a departure is now "likely" with Antwerp looking to bring in €30million (£25million) to provide "economic breathing space' for the club.
In terms of outgoings, Celtic hero Peter Grant reckons the club would accept a price of £10million for Reo Hatate this summer.
The 27-year-old has been a key figure in the Celtic engine room with Udinese among the club said to be showing an interest - with Brazil icon Zico pitching his former side to the Hoops' star.
Grant told the Go Radio Football Show: 'If Celtic get £10 million for Reo Hatate, then they would sell him.
"I don't mean that disrespectfully, because they will look at it and think, 27-28 years of age. They will think, 'okay, that's good money at that age'. That's just not Celtic. I think that's good value, in the respect of that. I think Brendan is very much aware of that.
'They know the areas they want. 100 per cent, they know exactly what they want, at this moment in time. Even before the (Scottish) cup final.'
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