Ex-Celtic star confident Kyogo Furuhashi could play for any Premier League team - with Tottenham bid expected

Former Celtic defender Ramon Vega reckons it’s a certainty that Ange Postecoglou will make a summer move to bring Kyogo Furuhashi to Tottenham – giving the Parkhead power-brokers a massive striking dilemma.

Vega, who won the League Cup with Tottenham in 1999 and a Treble with Martin O’Neill’s Hoops in 2001, insists the Japanese star could play for ANY of England’s top-flight sides.

The Swiss, who is now a successful football business consultant, believes the Celtic board will have to face up to a fan revolt if they sanction a transfer but on the flip side it makes huge financial sense.

Speaking to www.safebettingsites.com, Vega said: “There is no doubt Kyogo can go straight into the Tottenham team – whether Harry Kane stays or not. I believe Kyogo could fit into any team in the Premier League because he is such a good player.

“Some people have talked about his physique and that he wouldn’t cope with powerful defenders but I don’t buy into that. He has such quality and speed and a brilliant football brain. He suddenly comes from nowhere to score a goal and his finishing is so deadly. He is such a fantastic penalty box striker and every team in the Premier League would love a player like him.

“Kyogo reminds me of Henrik Larsson when I played with him in the 2001 Treble team. Henrik could do other things, but he was also so deadly when chances came to him and he would fool defenders with clever positioning and runs. I know the Celtic fans will go crazy if the board decides to sell him and I can understand why because he has been fantastic for them.

“He has been even better in his second season and he feels loved at Celtic. There is a big connection – but, of course, he could have that with Ange Postecoglou. In football terms, you would say that Celtic need to keep him if they want to anything in the Champions League groups and maybe even go further in the competition.

“However, then you have the business side. If Celtic sell Kyogo for £20m-£30m then it makes perfect sense because then you have the same amount coming from qualification and that would be massive income. But as I said, the fans would be in uproar. It’s bad enough losing the manager and now the best player is going. How do you replace him?”

It comes as Postecoglou closes in on his first Tottenham signing after Brentford goalkeeper David Raya held ‘positive talks’ with the North London club, according to reports. The 27-year-old shot-stopper has only 12 months remaining on his current deal and boss Thomas Frank values him at around £40million.

However, the player’s representatives feel the asking price is too high for someone entering the final year of their contract. No formal agreement has been reached, with Spurs thought to be unwilling to pay Brentford’s asking price as their search for a new No.1 continues after Hugo Lloris admitted he wanted a new challenge after 11 years with the club.