Celtic target Gue-sung Cho will reportedly delay his transfer to Europe to focus on his fitness despite rumours that the striker was close to signing for the Hoops.
According to the Daily Record, the South Korean sensation has opted to put off his move to Europe to instead remain in the K-League to improve his fitness, with Cho’s agent recently saying: “Cho Gue-sung continues to worry about his current physical condition.”
The Scottish Sun recently reported that Celtic were confident in securing a deal to sign Cho. However, this deal could now be on the brink of collapsing following these latest comments from the attacker’s agent.
One of the breakout stars of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Cho has quickly become one of the most sought-after talents in world football from the Asian market, with Celtic seemingly in the lead to sign the versatile attacker this January.
However, the forward’s latest stance amid fitness concerns seem to indicate that Cho only wants a move to Europe when he feels ready to compete, a decision that could see Celtic sign the forward at an even cheaper price in the summer transfer window.
Indeed, with Celtic’s latest bid for Cho coming in at £2.6m as per the Scottish Sun, there’s a realistic chance that the Hoops can return in the summer with a lower bid to prize the Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors to Glasgow, a situation that could greatly appeal to Ange Postecoglou.
Celtic playing the long game to sign Cho could work out massively
Celtic’s need for an attacker this January is quite evident with Postecoglou looking to revamp the position in 2023. However, the Hoops playing the long game for Cho could work out well in their favour if the player himself is staying in South Korea until the end of the season.
After all, Cho has the qualities to be a star at Celtic as well as a newfound reputation that could further expand the Hoops’ international profile. Yet with the forward putting off a move to Europe for now, the Scottish giants can now afford to play the waiting game for the 24-year-old.
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