Cho Gue sung to Celtic transfer is OFF as South Korean star wasn't 'wanted enough' with Hoops shopping around
Mainz had a bid rejected for the Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors hitman and a switch to Europe has been pushed back.
Cho Gue-sung won’t be joining Celtic.
The South Korean striker had been heavily linked to the Hoops, who had submitted a bumper bid that included a hefty sell-on fee in order to try and land the star ahead of Bundesliga outfit Mainz, who had bid €3.3million. Their offer was rejected, and now Sung looks set to remain with current club Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, reports Donga Sports in Korea.
That could still change should a major European club come in for him, but he won’t be joining Celtic, whose interest in other players has reportedly left Jeonbuk and Gue-sung feeling that he wasn’t wanted enough in order to take the plunge and make the move to Glasgow. International teammate Oh Hyun-gyu has also been linked with the Scottish Premiership champions, who refused to put all of their eggs in one basket when it came to adding a new striker to their squad.
Jeonbuk technical director Ji Sung Park has suggested to Gue-sung that they try and resurrect a move to Europe in the summer transfer window. MLS side Minnesota United were also interested and made an offer, but Gue-sung discounted them as a potential destination with his heart set on Europe.
Ange Postecoglou will now move on in his search for a new front man. Giorgos Giakoumakis could be set for Sampdoria, but whether the Greek will be allowed to leave until a replacement in sourced remains to be seen. Polish starlet Szymon Wlodarczyk of Gornik Zabrze is a potential new target.
A K League source said: “Cho Kyu-sung has decided to stay in Jeonbuk. I know he made up his mind ahead of the weekend. For now, it seems that there will be no transfers this winter unless there are decisive variables such as big European leagues and large proposals from big clubs.”
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