Rennes boss Jorge Sampaoli has opened up on the arrival of Kyogo Furuhashi from Celtic after he failed to make the game against Monaco.
The 30-year-old has been the top target for boss this month as he looks to the Japan international steer his side away from the Ligue 1 relegation zone – with the Scottish Premiership leaders set to land a £10m payday for the frontman with Jota heading in the opposite direction for an £8m fee. Speaking on Thursday about Kyogo, Sampaoli admitted he hoped the striker would be available for Saturday’s visit to the Stade Louis II – going as far to state that a deal would be done within 24 hours.
And with mystery surrounds the striker’s unveiling, following the 3-2 defeat Sampaoli stated he has “high expectations” for the Parkhead talisman with a deal appearing to be imminent. Asked about the Hoops’ fan favourite, the Argentine boss said: “We hoped he could play a few minutes against Monaco. We have high expectations of him because he is a player who can bring us a lot, in particular, depth.
“When we (the coaching team) arrived at the club, we expressed our needs. Now, we are coming to the end of the transfer window, and it is always difficult to find concrete solutions.”
Rennes striker Amine Gouiri has welcomed the arrival of a new rival for the frontman role, stating post-match: “The reason Kyogo Furuhashi is coming to the club is because we need him.
“We need reinforcement in attack. It’s good for the club. Competition is part of the job. And I think it is good for everyone to increase the level. I hope he will help us a lot.”