Celtic want Cho Gue-sung and have now outbid Bundesliga side Mainz in the race for his signature this month.
That’s according to a report from Football Scotland, who claim that Celtic have now moved ahead of Mainz in the race for Cho’s signature.
It’s stated that Mainz offered around £2.7million for Cho and a move to Germany appeared to be on the cards.
Mainz already have a South Korean international in midfielder Lee Jae-sung and were looking to get Cho alongside him.
However, Celtic are understood to have hijacked the deal and are now offering Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors a better deal.
Park Ji-sung – yes, the former Manchester United ace – is in London to negotiate deals for Cho in his role as Jeobuk’s technical director.
Celtic suddenly have real hope of signing Cho with boss Ange Postecoglou understood to be a big fan of the striker.
Celtic could land real coup with Cho Gue-sung
Postecoglou’s admiration for Cho may go back to before he even became Celtic manager.
Cho scored for Jeonbuk against Postecoglou’s Yokohama F. Marinos side in 2020 and they may end up joining forces now.
The 24-year-old – who turns 25 later this month – has bagged 16 goals in 45 games for Jeonbuk.
That may not sound all that impressive but Cho also racked up 14 goals in 36 games for FC Anyang, as well as 21 goals in 51 games for military team Gimcheon Sangmu during his mandatory national service.
Add in six goals in 20 South Korea caps and Cho has proven that he can score goals.
Cho buried two fantastic headers against Ghana at the World Cup and even clashed with Cristiano Ronaldo over in Qatar.
Hailed as ‘excellent’ by former Tottenham defender Lee Young-pyo, Cho seems ready for the leap to Europe.
Celtic will want a physical striker to potentially replace Giorgos Giakoumakis, and Cho looks like the ideal target if they can beat Mainz to his signature.
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