Sky Sports News are reporting that Genk have put in an offer to sign Oh Hyeon-gyu for £4m.
That would represent a tidy £1.5m profit on the striker who was signed from Suwon Bluewings in January 2023 with the daunting task of taking over from Giorgos Giakoumakis.
In his first five months at the club Oh showed enough to suggest that he could offer an alternative to Kyogo Furuhashi although he wasn’t as effective or as prolific as the departed Greek.
Last season can be split in two for the young striker- before and after Adam Idah arrived on loan from Norwich City, in the final few months of the season Oh rarely made it onto the bench as Idah contributed vital goals as Celtic swept to the domestic double.
Rather than hang around on a contract that runs until May 2028 it seems that Oh is keen to move on and find a club that will give him the playing time that he needs.
BREAKING: Genk have made a bid worth around £4m for Celtic striker Hyeongyu Oh 🇰🇷 pic.twitter.com/rxRyyaNIge
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) June 13, 2024
Belgian publisher HBVL reports:
KRC Genk even made an initial bid for the South Korean centre-forward, who scored five times in twenty league games in his first season at Celtic and also made five appearances in the Champions League.
Hyeon-gyu Oh did not have his happiest season in Glasgow after joining from Suwon Bluewings last summer. A shin injury hampered his start, but five goals in six games at the end of 2023 seemed to launch him. Until Celtic signed extra striker Adam Idah on loan from Norwich in January. He scored seven times in ten matches, also fitted in better with coach Brendan Rodgers’ plans in terms of playing style and thus ensured that Hyeon-gyu Oh completely disappeared from the picture.
That is why the South Korean international, who has already collected eleven A-caps, is keen on a transfer to Genk. The agile and physically strong attacker wants to revive his career. And sees potential in a collaboration with coach Thorsten Fink, the man who launched his compatriot/great role model Heung-min Son (now Tottenham) at HSV twelve years ago.
In very simple terms selling Oh would appear to offer up a large deposit on signing Idah with the balance possibly coming from selling Mikey Johnston on the back of his loan spell as West Brom.
Under Brendan Rodgers it seemed that Oh and Johnston were played out of necessity, as the manager puts his plans together for next season he could have one proven striker replacing two fringe players.
The issue of timing could be key, if Oh is sold it would leave Celtic with just one striker which could assist Norwich as they drive a deal on Idah.
There has been no comment from Celtic since the aftermath of the Scottish Cup Final but midway between that Hampden triumph and the first pre-season friendly there is an expectation that some transfer moves should start moving.
Last season there were more than 30 players on first team wages at Celtic, a significant cull is required to get down to workable levels and create slots for new signings and anyone emerging from the Academy.
CLICK HERE for Oh’s Transfermarkt profile.
CLICK HERE for Keevins performs incredible u-turn on Rodgers as he accuses Celtic fans.
CLICK HERE for Santa Ponsa celebrates Celtic’s victory in the Glasgow Derby.
6PM UPDATE FROM TRUSTED BELGIAN SOURCE
🔵⚪️ #KRCGenk very confident for Hyeon-gyu Oh !
✍🏼 An agreement on personal terms based on a long term contract has been founded with the Korean striker.
🔵⚪️ Genk wants to close the deal at 5M€ + bonus. Talks underway between both clubs.
🇨🇭This arrival signifies that… pic.twitter.com/8RcxZkdezA
— Sacha Tavolieri (@sachatavolieri) June 13, 2024
