Cho Gue-Sung ‘definitely has the talent to succeed on the big stage’ amid reports linking South Korea’s World Cup marksman with a January move to Celtic, former coach Ko Jeong-woon tells Kahn.
Given the impact Kyogo Furuhasu, Reo Hatate and Daizen Maeda made during Celtic’s 2021/22 Premiership-winning campaign, Ange Postecoglou certainly deserves the benefit of the doubt as he looks to bring in another talented young player from the Far East.
Cho Gue-Sung scored both of South Korea’s goals during the 3-2 defeat to Ghana at the Qatar World Cup this week. He also went into the tournament on the back of 14 goals and five assists for Jeonbuk Motors in the 2022 K-League season; a tally which earned him the Golden Boot.
And with Giorgios Giakoumakis expected to leave Parkhead in January, Celtic are in the market for a replacement with 24-year-old Cho one name on Postecoglou’s radar (Scottish Sun).
Celtic could sign South Korea striker Cho Gue-Sung after Qatar World Cup
“Gue-Sung definitely has the talent to succeed on the big stage,” says Jeong-Woon, who coached Cho at FC Anyang a few years ago.
“People put in less effort the higher they go up. Kyu-sung was not like that. So he became the top scorer in the K-League this year, and he also exploded at the World Cup.
“We tell our players that they have to be at that level to be a soccer player.”
A real physical presence at 6ft 2ins, Cho possesses Giakoumakis’ height, strenght and finishing ability from inside the penalty area.
“Cho Gue-Sung has the ability to play in Europe,” adds South Korea legend Kim Dong-Jin, speaking to Star News.
Celtic are also reportedly keeping tabs on the Dutch-born, Poland-based Said Hamulic (TMW). The 22-year-old is another striker in the Giakoumakis mould, as is the 6ft 5ins Slovakia international Ladislav Almasi.
Giakoumakis, meanwhile, is ‘poised’ to leave in the winter. Negations over a new contract with Celtic have hit the buffers (Record).
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