South Korea forward Yang Hyun-Jun has reiterated his desire to join Scottish Premiership champions Celtic this summer as a disagreement rumbles on behind the scenes at Gangwon FC.
A stylish, technically-gifted winger with an eye for goal, if Celtic’s frontline wasn’t fearsome enough already, the addition of a man who scored eight times and set up four more during the most recent K-League season would serve only to increase the ammunition available to the returning Brendan Rodgers.
Yang Hyun-Jun, alongside fellow South Korean’s Eom Ji-Sung and Jeong Ho-Yeon – both of Gwangju FC – are on Celtic’s radar this summer, Rodgers picking up where Ange Postecoglou left off as the Hoops continue to scour the Asian market in pursuit of bargain buys.
Yang Hyun-Jun wants to sign for celtic
It remains to be seen how much Celtic would pay for Yang.
According to reports from Korea, however, the Hoops are offering a ‘fairly large transfer fee’; the silky 21-year-old emerging as Celtic’s number one target after they sent scouts to the Far East.
The admirition, meanwhile, is very much mutual.
“I want to go to Celtic,” Yang tells Sports Chosun. “Moving to Europe is a dream of all players. I am the same.
“I want to go in the summer, not the winter.”
Unfortunately, his Gangwon bosses do not share Yang’s enthusiasm for a summer departure. The club are currently ‘blocking’ his move to Parkhead. The K-League runs from February to the autumn, meaning a move to Celtic in the coming weeks would see Yang leave Gangwon in the middle of the domestic campaign.
“It is true Celtic (are interested in) Yang Hyun-jun,” director Kim Tae-Joo explains. It is his next sentence, however, that has left the 21-year-old winger unhappy.
“No, we will not transfer Yang this summer,” Kim adds. “The transfer fee is not a big problem. However, the priority is to consider the current team situation.
“Celtic are sticking to their position of wanting to recruit Yang during this summer.”
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