CELTIC goal hero Chris Sutton has warned of a fan backlash if Matt O’Riley AND Kyogo Furuhashi are allowed to leave in this transfer window.
It appears the silky Denmark international playmaker is on the verge of a £30million move to Brighton this weekend.
With just six days to go until the deadline, the Japanese striker has been linked with Manchester City.
Sutton, who joined the Hoops for £6million from Chelsea in the summer of 2000, insists it will be a NIGHTMARE if Brendan Rodgers has to go into the Champions League without two of his key players.
The one-time England international forward said: “The prospect of losing Matt O’Riley is a tough one for Celtic fans to stomach. But allowing Kyogo to also head out the door would be absolutely unthinkable right now.
THREE CHEERS…Nicolas Kuhn is flanked by Matt O’Riley and Kyogo Furuhashi as the trio go through a routine to celebrate the Graman’s goal in Celtic’s 4-0 win over Kilmarnock.
“Celtic shouldn’t even contemplate the possibility of the striker leaving. They can’t entertain it – at any price. There’s been enough said about O’Riley and people have just about got their heads around his likely departure.
“Kyogo is a different matter. The story this week about Manchester City being interested has got supporters in a panic – and it’s understandable.
“The notion of Celtic losing two of their best players going into the final week of the transfer window makes my stomach lurch, as well.
“A few of my colleagues in England have scoffed a little about the City link with Kyogo. But I can understand why they’d be looking at him. I have no doubt Kyogo could cut it in the Premier League.
“You look at his movement, his speed, his ability to get across his man and attack the near post. He would score goals for City, for sure.
“And I’m sure plenty will understand the attraction for Celtic if they can get £20million plus for a 29-year-old striker. That’s not the point, though. Celtic might get a ton of money – but Kyogo is irreplaceable.”
HOOP HOOP HOORAY…Chris Sutton celebrates a goal against Rangers.
Sutton, speaking to the Daily Record, continued: “At some point they are going to need to draw a line in the sand. They need to show they are a club with Champions League ambitions rather than just a battery farm for other clubs to come along and pick up their top players whenever they feel like it.
“Everyone gets worked up about City, but I’m not sure that would be the right career move for Kyogo, either. Yes, he’d make plenty of money, but he’d be the back-up for Erling Haarland.
“Would he be happy sitting on the bench every week and playing the odd Carabao Cup tie? It wouldn’t be for me. He’d be as well taking the Saudi money.
“Likewise for O’Riley. It’s been assumed his move to Brighton is inevitable, but is it the best place for him? I’m not so sure about that one, either. Brighton are a good club, who play nice football and have an imaginative manager.
“But the Amex Stadium is not Celtic Park on Champions League nights.”
Sutton added: “That is where it really matters and the prospect of going into the competition without Kyogo and O’Riley is a nightmare.
“I know Brendan Rodgers has talked up some of the performances in Europe last season, but I wasn’t all that convinced.
ALONE WITH HIS THOUGHTS…Brendan Rodgers at Lennoxtown.
“But any of the decent stuff they did produce, it was O’Riley and Kyogo at the heart of it. Celtic don’t have many Champions League-level players – but these two are.
“And if they are both allowed to leave at this stage, they might as well roll up the white flag. If one or both go it would also leave Rodgers with a huge amount of work required and not a lot of time to do it.
“To lose another two vital men would leave Celtic scrambling for five players – who would need to hit the ground running. In case people have forgotten, Rangers are up next weekend and the first derby is always huge psychologically.
“Can you imagine the reaction if Celtic sell O’Riley and Kyogo, bring in a couple of prospects for a debut against their big rivals and then they lose the game?
“The fans would understandably be furious. This summer should have been about the Champions League, but, unless they pull something special out the bag, they are now jeopardising the league.
“That’s an incredible situation to be in when there was a feeling that if they went out and brought in a few quality additions early in the window then they could absolutely bury Rangers.
CHEERLEADER…Reo Hatate celebrates scoring Celtic’s first goal of the new season in the 4-0 win over Kilmarnock at Parkhead on Flag Day.
“Instead, there’s a week to go in the window and they are somehow facing the prospect of being weaker than at the end of last season. Celtic need to get it sorted sharpish – while slapping a not for sale sign on Kyogo for starters.”
In the midst of a storm of speculation – with Reo Hatate also linked with Leicester City in some reports – boss Rodgers has continued to focus on the obstacles ahead.
The champions face St Mirren in Paisley in the noon kick-off tomorrow and the Hoops are looking to continue their 100 per cent record since the start of the new campaign.
Rodgers has guided his players to victories over Kilmarnock (4-0) and Hibs (2-0) in their opening two league outings while they will now take on Falkirk in the Premier Sports League Cup quarter-final next month following the 3-1 triumph over the Easter Road outfit last weekend.
Stephen Robinson’s side are now in his sights.
