Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors are considering Celtic’s offer for South Korean striker Cho Gue-sung - although they claim the offer is less than they had expected.
The World Cup star is known to be keen on a move to Scotland but is still waiting for a deal to be agreed. Jeonbuk have made it clear they would rather keep the 24-year-old until the summer but their star asset would rather go now. Jeonbuk’s chief executive officer Heo Byung-gil confirmed: "It's been a long time since an offer came from Celtic and the transfer fee is also lower than the club thought.
"So I'm thinking about it. Considering many things, I think I'm talking to Gue-sung, saying, 'Isn't it better to go in when the team is newly formed, rather than adapt to it when the team is already formed?" Gue-sung has admitted that Celtic’s success in the Asian market with their Japanese imports, like Kyogo Furuhashi, Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate, has impressed him.
Che-sung claimed: "Celtic have six Japanese players in its squad. As you can see there, it is a team that has invested heavily in the Asian market over the past few years and there have been talks."
Che-sung’s agent denied that Turkish side Galatasaray are in for his player. Rivals Fenerbahce and French side Rennes have also been linked with the South Korean.
His agent said: "Currently, we are discussing with the Scottish Celtic club. It's good for us to go out (even in winter).”
Celtic have also been linked with a move for fellow Korean striker Oh Hyeon gyu but his K-League club Suwan don’t want to sell. Celtic are on the lookout for a striker with uncertainty over the long-term future of Giorgos Giakoumakis.
The Greek international has failed to agree a new contract with the Hoops and is hoping for a move in the January window. Croatian international Josip Juranovic is also in a similar position and the Hoops are looking to see if he can be sold this month.
READ NEXT