Why Celtic's Adam Idah pursuit impacts talisman Kyogo

Urawa Red Diamonds allegedly targeted the 29-year-old Celtic striker in an ambitious £10 million deal. There was talk of shock departures, stunning moves, and J-League record transfer fees being smashed to lure Kyogo back to his native land as he was top of Urawa Red Diamonds shopping list. Notwithstanding the media circus over the last 24 hours concerning Kyogo the Celtic supporters are still basking in the glow of winning the Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup double. The Celtic fans might not want to be willing to listen to accept this but is it time for Celtic and Rodgers to have a serious discussion about the Japanese talisman?

For the record, I love Kyogo. There, I said it. Most Celtic supporters adore him. Goalscorers are certainly treated differently in G40. Hero worship doesn't begin to cover it. Kyogo has brought unbridled joy to the Celtic supporters since he pitched up in Glasgow during the summer of 2021 from Vissel Kobe as former boss Ange Postecoglou set about his task of wrestling the title back from Rangers with gusto.

In 83 appearances in two seasons under the Australian, the Japanese forward scored 54 goals. He also contributed 10 assists as he helped Celtic win a League and League Cup double in 2021/22 and the domestic treble the following year. Postecoglou then quit Celtic for the riches on offer down south to manage English Premier League outfit Tottenham Hotspur last summer as the glitz and the glamour proved too good to resist with Brendan Rodgers returning to the Parkhead managerial helm for a second stint.

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Cynics will read into these statistics what they will but this season Kyogo netted 19 times and contributed five assists in 50 appearances. It represented his poorest goal tally - for want of a better expression - in his three seasons at Celtic. To put it into context, Celtic midfielder Matt O'Riley finished joint top scorer at the club alongside Kyogo with 19 goals. Again, could you read into that what you will?

There is an argument to suggest that Kyogo by his impeccably high standards had what is tantamount to an average campaign. Sure there were still some highs along the way as he netted his first-ever Champions League goal against Atletico Madrid in a pulsating 2-2 draw back in October. He claimed the winner in the first and second Glasgow derbies of the campaign at Ibrox and Celtic Park respectively. Surprisingly Kyogo's last away goal in the league came against Hearts in a 4-1 win at Tynecastle back in October. That's a seven-month goal drought on your Scottish Premiership travels although he did manage a counter in Paisley during the 2-0 Scottish Cup triumph over St Mirren in February.

Kyogo is undoubtedly one of the most popular players at the club and a parting of the ways does seem unlikely at this particular career juncture. However, there are increasing signs that Rodgers may not see Kyogo as the long-term answer for Celtic in the striking role. Postecoglou himself once said of Kyogo: “He’s like all strikers. They go a couple of games without scoring and the world collapses in on them.”

On numerous occasions this season the attacker endured a barren spell of three or more games without a goal. His longest run was seven games where he failed to hit the back of the net from mid-November to mid-December. Many Celtic supporters will still believe that Kyogo is essential to the future success of the club. However, what became apparent this season, in particular, is that Rodgers' style may not be exactly designed to get the best out of a player like Kyogo.

Under Postecoglou the team was drilled to create and find the pockets of space for Kyogo to run into. Hence the trademark neat post runs that yielded so many of his strikes. The player was still making those trademark runs this season but on far too many occasions the run was either not spotted or the system of play under Rodgers - which was very side-to-side and recycling of the ball - saw Kyogo being denied the space he has become accustomed to in the previous two campaigns. The supply and the service from the wide areas weren't up to scratch at times as well. Kyogo is still an unbelievable finisher but he is certainly not at his best when he has to play with his back to goal.

It's largely why Adam Idah has positively thrived at centre-forward since his on-loan spell from Norwich City in January. Idah scored nine goals (eight in the Premiership and one in the Scottish Cup). His goals return yielded 16 points as well as a memorable Scottish Cup-winning strike against Rangers at Hampden Park at the end-of-season showpiece last weekend. Rodgers' system of playing was tailor-made for a player like Idah. Why? If you know your history then this is what Rodgers does. He functions with a strong, powerful, pacy focal point in attack. Think Moussa Dembele, think Odsonne Edouard or even Luis Suarez at Liverpool.

Now if Rodgers is all about playing fast-attacking football then he needs players who boast both pace and power. He has admitted that is the ideal image for his Celtic team moving forward. To achieve that he needs players with pace and power - in every position. Rodgers has made no secret of the fact that Celtic are actively pursuing Idah as a permanent striker at the club. Look at the impact Idah has made for Celtic since January. His hold-up play is tremendous, he is solid in the air, he is deceptively quick for a tall guy, his positional play is excellent and he can also sniff out all sorts of goals.

He is not a battering ram or a target man but he can be. You wonder if Rodgers glimpsed the future on the night Celtic clinched the Premiership title at Rugby Park. Idah was sensational in the 5-0 win in Ayrshire on plastic. The 23-year-old destroyed the Killie defence with as good an old-fashioned centre-forward display from a Celtic attacker that you are ever likely to see. If the Republic of Ireland international could produce a first-class performance like that domestically then it stands to reason that he could also do it in the Champions League - couldn't he?

Rodgers is hoping to find that out soon enough. It was a managerial masterstroke by Rodgers to give Idah the call over Kyogo on such a defining moment of the season. The Northern Irishman didn't flinch from making the decision. He was vindicated in the end. Strong, robust, powerful, clinical, and physically wonderful. Idah was all of the above as Kyogo watched the title-clinching match unfold from the bench. Kyogo was also on the substitutes bench when Idah produced at Hampden Park when it mattered most. Rodgers liked what he saw from Idah on both occasions and it has given the 51-year-old much food for thought as he attempts to take Celtic into the new Champions League era.

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Kyogo has been a brilliant servant for Celtic over the past three years and he has notched seven goals against his derby rivals which is no mean feat. However, you get the feeling that there is a sea change in Rodgers' thinking as to how Celtic go about trying to cope with the rigours and demands of the Champions League next season. Deploying a big, physical presence up top would represent a change in tactics and direction but it could pay dividends for Celtic in the long run.

Rodgers desperately craves for Celtic to be the best version of themselves that they can be at the pinnacle and top table of European football. That being the case then the $64,000 question is: Does Kyogo no longer fit Rodgers and Celtic's system? Time will tell. There is certainly no room for sentiment when making these kinds of judgements. Rodgers and the Scottish champions have indicated that they will ramp up their pursuit of Idah in the summer. Of that, there is no doubt. The player is tried and tested now.

Rather tellingly Rodgers said this of Idah immediately after the Scottish Cup final when he was asked to speak about his telling contribution to the Celtic cause this season. He said: "Adam was very clear on the role. He had clarity on how I would use him. He was going to start games and he was going to come on in games but always be ready to make an impact.

"His confidence has never wavered from that. He has been a brilliant team player. What I love about him is that he is a big game player and in so many big moments he has stepped up to the plate."

If Celtic manages to secure the services of Idah on a permanent deal in the summer then moving forward it is Kyogo who may well have to be very clear on his role and how Rodgers is going to use him but always be ready to make an impact. Kyogo is still a big game player. He can still produce so many big moments and is always capable of stepping up to the plate for Celtic. The world has not collapsed in on Kyogo.

It's certainly not time to say sayonara to the goalscoring talisman just yet.