Celtic

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Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers says Rennes-bound Kyogo Furuhashi asked to leave the club "a number of months back".

Rodgers confirmed Celtic have accepted a bid and the Japan striker is set to join Rennes, with Jota poised to return to the Scottish champions from the Ligue 1 club.

"He has travelled for a medical so that will probably be confirmed in the next 24 hours," Rodgers said of Kyogo.

"Kyogo expressed an interest to leave a number of months back. That expression becomes stronger and obviously it gets to the stage where he clearly wants to leave. Sadly, we then have to do a deal and finalise that with him."

Rodgers said Portuguese winger Jota would be an "incredible addition" and expects the deal to be completed "in the next 24 hours".

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• This will be Celtic and Dundee's second successive league game against one another, after their 3-3 earlier this month. It's the first time the Hoops have faced the same opponent in back-to-back league games since January 2021 v Livingston.

• Dundee remain winless in 45 meetings with Celtic in all competitions (D7 L38), although the draw earlier this month was the first time the Dark Blues scored 3+ goals against the Hoops in a match since October 1988 (3-2 win).

• Celtic have won their past seven home league games by an aggregate score of 23-0. They last won more in a row without conceding at Celtic Park in March 2014 (nine).

• Dundee have won their past two away league outings, as many as their previous 17 beforehand (W2 D5 L10).

• After scoring in the 3-3 draw last time out, having also netted two league goals for Dundee earlier this season, Celtic's Luke McCowan is the first player to score both for and against the same side in a Scottish Premiership season since Tony Watt with Dundee United and Motherwell in 2021-22. McCowan is the first to do so for and against Dundee in the competition since Simon Murray in 2017-18.

Celtic have sold 30-year-old Japan striker Kyogo Furuhashi to Rennes for a fee in excess of £8.44m, with 25-year-old Spanish winger Jota heading in the opposite direction for £8.44m plus a 10% sell-on clause. (Fabrizio Romano on X), external

Celtic striker Kyogo Furuhashi has been photographed leaving Glasgow on a private jet then touching down in Brittany to seal his move to Ligue 1 club Rennes. (The National), external

Negotiations on a deal worth £8m between Celtic and Rennes for Jota have reached an advanced stage, with the Portuguese winger keen on a return to the Scottish champions. (Sky Sports), external

Celtic striker Kyogo Furuhashi has flown out to France for a medical and to hold talks with Rennes as the 30-year-old prepares for a transfer to the Ligue 1 club. (Football Insider), external

Scotland defender Kieran Tierney has signed a pre-contract agreement with Celtic and the 27-year-old will return to the Scottish club once his Arsenal deal expires this summer. (Mirror), external

Celtic are set to rekindle their move for £8m Danish striker Mathias Kvistgaarden after they failed to agree a fee with Brondby for the 22-year-old last summer, but he is also on Eintracht Frankfurt's radar. (Scottish Sun), external

Mathias Kvistgaarden is keen on a transfer to Celtic and Brondby are open to doing a deal to sell the striker. (TeamTalk), external

Celtic have held initial talks over a possible deal for winger Louie Barry, but Aston Villa remain reluctant to sell the 21-year-old and have offered him a new contract with the plan to send him out on loan. (Sky Sports), external

Portsmouth are keen on Celtic striker Daniel Cummings, with the Championship club exploring the possibility of a pre-contract agreement with the 18-year-old, whose current deal expires in the summer. (Sky Sports), external

Celtic have earned a guaranteed £38m after securing their place in the Champions League knockout round play-offs. (Football Insider), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Defender Auston Trusty insists Celtic are "full of confidence" as they prepare to face Aston Villa in their final Champions League game next week.

After three disallowed goals and a missed penalty against Young Boys on Wednesday night, it took a late own goal to secure the win for Celtic at Parkhead.

The victory also books their place in the play-offs for the round of 16 ahead of their trip to Aston Villa.

"I don't think we're ever satisfied," Trusty said.

"That's the mindset. Go there and get points and play our game. At the end of the day, whatever happens, as long as we play our game, we'll be happy and it's up to us.

"We have the mindset, we have the personnel, we have the camaraderie and we have the chemistry, so you create your own luck and it's really up to us.

"I don't really feel any pressure come off. I think you approach every game the same way and I haven't got that vibe from anybody, the coaching staff or players, that you settle down.

"I think it's just really the Celtic way to approach every game the same way and that's why you see results."

Kasper Schmeichel believes the lessons learned from Celtic's hammering in Dortmund provided the springboard for their surge to the Champions League play-off round.

Brendan Rodgers' side rebounded from that 7-1 drubbing by going five games unbeaten, culminating in Wednesday night's 1-0 win over Young Boys which sent the Scottish champions through with a game to spare.

Goalkeeper Schmeichel, who made a crucial double save in the second half against the Swiss, said: "I think we learned our lesson in Dortmund.

"We've bounced back and recovered really well from that and that's what you need to do. Sometimes, it's not about success, that's not when you really learn.

"You learn when you have a tough time and I think we've come out from that really well. We went to Atalanta, one of the highest scoring teams in Europe, and kept them from scoring, which I think is an impressive thing. We've kept learning.

"I think that's the mark of the squad. We're never getting carried away. We stay humble and we keep learning."

Schmeichel, who signed a new contract on Wednesday to summer 2026, hailed Celtic's "massive achievement" in reaching the Champions League knockout rounds for the first time since 2013.

"For a club of this size, that's where we should be," the Dane said. "That was the goal, that was the aim from the start of the season. It's a huge achievement."

We asked for your views on Celtic's 1-0 win against Young Boys which secured a place in the Champions League play-off phase.

Here's what some of you said:

Clem: First half we were positive and looking to get in behind, could and should have been out of sight. Second half we didn't adapt to their tactical changes. Our wingers just couldn't get on the ball and never looked like getting in behind. The midfield again ran out of legs and basic passing disappeared. However, we dug out the result and qualified.

John: Well-deserved win. We seemed to have blown ourselves out after that brilliant first half. Second half, once again, quite predictable moves. We are going to need a Plan B against Aston Villa as we will be without Daizen Maeda.

Gordy: In the end we made it hard for ourselves, we started brilliantly but were too keen and it all seemed a bit rushed, hence the three offside goals. Penalty misses happen but that would have really settled us and set us up for the second half. Young Boys were always going to have a go and Kasper Schmeichel was brilliant, got the result in the end and onward to the play-offs.

Edward: Good team performance, we never gave up and kept going right up to the end. Just a pity we didn't win by more, the only blemish was a stupid sending off of Maeda, otherwise a very good performance.

Paul: Epic European night at Parkhead saw Celtic grind out a steely, resolute performance, especially from Schmeichel, to advance to the knockout out stages. You definitely need a bit of luck in the running, Loris Benito's fortuitous stunning late own goal proved to be the decisive turning point in the match, no more than what Celtic deserved in the end.

Jimmy: Celtic were very unlucky to have scored three goals in a game and they've all been disallowed, then have a penalty saved and at that point you're thinking it's not going to be our night, but we get a lucky goal and for once things go our way.

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If Celtic's dramatic 1-0 win over Young Boys felt eerily familiar then you are old enough to remember the mists of a 1993 Uefa Cup tie.

Back then, the Swiss side provided stubborn opposition before a late own goal - from Alain Baumann in extra time - edged Celtic through 1-0 on aggregate to the second round.

It also proved to be 'Tiger' Tim Stevens' last game as Celtic's stadium announcer after he asked fans for a minute's silence "in memory of Rangers' European Cup campaign" following their exit that night.

Thirty two years on, the stakes for Celtic were considerably higher but the on-field outcome similar as a late own goal - this time from Loris Benito - made the crucial breakthrough at a racuous Parkhead. Cue bedlam.

Celtic are now guaranteed a spot in the Champions League play-offs and it seems lightning does indeed strike twice.

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Is Kyogo Furuhashi edging towards a Celtic exit?

Rumours continue to swirl over the Japan striker's future and the latest links suggest Rennes are closing in on a £10m move, external.

Kyogo, 30, has been a huge player for Celtic since joining from Vissel Kobe in summer 2021 and captain Callum McGregor hopes the club can hang on to him.

After the 1-0 win over Young Boys - in which Kyogo had a first-half hat-trick disallowed - secured Celtic's place in the Champions League play-off phase, McGregor said: "I understand there is a lot of speculation.

"But he's a Celtic player at the minute and obviously we want to keep him for as long as we can.

"He's a top player. Again, you see his quality tonight, his movement, the way he sets the tone for the team.

"All our good players, we want to keep them for as long as we can. Generally, when there's speculation, then people have done well.

"We want that as well. It gets people talking about Celtic and the players that we've got. I'm sure the club will do everything they can to keep him because he's a top player and a top person as well."

As he reflected on a "brilliant" European night, McGregor praised striker Adam Idah, who has struggled for form this season but forced the late own goal against Young Boys after latching on to Reo Hatate's exquisite pass.

"He's a key part of the goal. He's done a lot of good work probably without the rewards of the goals," the skipper added.

"I know from playing with strikers they value themselves on goals so he'll feel amazing about that. But he's actually done some really good work for the team in the last few months since he's come back in. His value to the team is more than just goals."

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• Celtic are undefeated in their last five games in the Champions League, their longest unbeaten streak in the competition (since at least 2004/2005).

• Celtic are now 30 games unbeaten at home in all competitions (W27 D3), their longest such run since March 2007 (33).

• Young Boys have lost their last eight games in the Champions League, their longest losing streak in the competition (since at least 2004/2005).

• Celtic benefited from an own goal in a Champions League match for the first time since September 2016 v Manchester City when Raheem Sterling put the ball in his own net.

• Arne Engels' penalty miss was the first time Celtic had failed to score from the spot in a Champions League match at Celtic Park since Barry Robson v Aalborg in September 2008.

• Georgios Samaras (12 vs Aalborg in September 2008) was the last Celtic player to register more touches in the opposition box in a Champions League game than Daizen Maeda in this match (10).

Celtic are eyeing a move for former winger Jota - as Rennes close in on a £10m deal for Japan forward Kyogo Furuhashi. (Scottish Sun)

Officers from Police Scotland were given special permission to monitor Glasgow's CCTV before the Rangers v Celtic game earlier this month in order to avoid a repeat of the street violence seen late last year. (The Herald)

Read the rest of Thursday's gossip.

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"It's amazing, this feeling is indescribable," Celtic striker Adam Idah tells TNT Sports.

"This is where we wanted to get to, we've been great this season, we've got here now and there's still time to push on.

"Anytime I come on he [Brendan Rodgers] tells me to do my thing and be myself. These are the games I want to play in and have an impact in.

"Reo [Hatate], what a pass! He's unbelievable, what a player he is.

"I got a bit lucky, but we'll take it. I said to the boys I don't care, that's my goal.

"I think we can go far, we have got a great squad.

"We have come this far, why not dream big? We want to go to the top and we will go as far as we can."

Celtic clinched Champions League knockout football for the first time in 12 years after Loris Benito's late own goal secured a dramatic victory over Young Boys on a nerve-shredding night in Glasgow.

It looked like the hosts - who had Daizen Maeda sent off late on - would squander the opportunity as Arne Engels missed a penalty and Kyogo Furughashi had three first-half goals ruled out.

Most of the second half fell flat but the hosts eventually made the breakthrough when Adam Idah's 86th-minute effort was initially saved by goalkeeper Marvin Keller, only for the ball to rebound off captain Benito and bounce into the empty net.

What did you make of that, Celtic fans? How are the nerves after those 95 minutes?

Did you think the chance had gone? Or did you always believe, as Brendan Rodgers said his players did?

Let us know your thoughts, external.

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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers told the media conference: "We get that little bit of luck for the goal that we never had in the first half.

"I've been involved in many games here where you end up drawing that game and it's a bit flat at the end, or even worse you lose the game when you shouldn't have.

"For us to win it, it shows the maturity and the development of this squad.

"The club is always the most important and the supporters from the first whistle to the end could see that the players needed lifted and pushed and they came in all the way through the game, but especially at the end.

"A little bit of history is created, we haven't been in the knockout stages for a long time. For the supporters, it's an amazing night.

"It's a privilege to be here and manage here. There's been so many critics of Celtic at this level, and there's no doubt it is a challenge at this level, but the players have stepped up. They've been absolutely superb."

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

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The expression on Brendan Rodgers' face when Schmeichel made a 95th-minute save spoke volumes. The manager looked relieved, his emotions no doubt swinging like a pendulum during a game that saw the best of his Celtic side, but also a profligacy that almost cost them.

The first half was brilliant. Young Boys tried to play in a compact shape with a high defensive line. Brave? Perhaps. Naive? It seemed so.

Celtic cut them open time and again to create chance after chance. Nicolas Kuhn missed a couple of good openings and was a little hesitant to pull the trigger.

The disallowed goals might be considered unlucky, but the penalty miss from Engels - his first after six successful spot-kicks - was an incredible fourth let-off, the accumulation of which allowed Young Boys to believe.

The second half was a sloppy affair. Passes started to go astray. Young Boys got higher and higher up the pitch and only superb Schmeichel saves prevented Celtic from going behind.

They dug out the moment of quality in the end as under-fire Idah latched on to Hatate's phenomenal through ball and forced a save that ended with Benito turning the ball into his own net.

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Kasper Schmeichel. For large parts of the first-half the great Dane played the role of casual observer but it was the second-half in which he helped win the game for Celtic.

Two wonder-saves denied Darian Males, while his save to stop Sandro Lauper in the 95th-minute heralded jubilant celebrations inside Celtic Park.

A word for Reo Hatate, too. Industrious in the midfield, with all the neat and tidy play we've come to expect, before a match-winning assist.

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

So here it is: Celtic's biggest game of the season. They've played better opposition and more glamorous names. When it comes to what's at stake, however, nothing else comes close.

The magnitude of this match is such it may allow manager Brendan Rodgers finally to fulfil a long-cherished ambition of making a mark in Europe.

As Young Boys head away from the canton that boasts the Bernese Alps, the gaze of the Scottish champions is fixed on a different summit. Their climb is almost complete: one more win and Celtic will rise to the heady heights of Champions League knockout football for the first time in over a decade.

Domestic dominance is par for the course for this Celtic manager. What really floats his boat, you sense, is breaking new ground. That's what tempted him to return, that sense of unfinished business. If the Swiss can be defeated, the box ticked is arguably the most satisfying one: European respectability.

Yes, the draw was incredibly kind to Celtic. Their section comprises the three weakest sides in the competition, going by current standings. Neither RB Leipzig, Slovan Bratislava nor Young Boys mustered so much as a draw between them.

Nonetheless, putting eight goals in total past the Slovakian league leaders and the fifth-place team in the Bundesliga is not to be sniffed at.

Young Boys may pose less of a threat. They sit ninth in the 12-team Swiss Super League and have conceded 22 goals in the Champions League so far, scoring just three.

While Celtic will not – dare not – take anything for granted, they'll never have a better chance of European progression. Twelve points would almost certainly get the job done while rendering next week's jaunt down to Birmingham to face Aston Villa all the more enjoyable.

With the transfer window winding down, and Kieran Tierney's name pencilled in for the roster either this month or in the summer, the guaranteed extra revenue that Champions League qualification brings could very well green light other deals Celtic are working on.

Another big night under the lights in Glasgow's east end. The season's big ambition on the line. An opportunity further to enhance the club's spending power.

It may only be Young Boys of Bern but the chance for Celtic to mature at Europe's top table undoubtedly makes this the most significant match so far in a season that's promising to deliver on all fronts.

David Currie
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Celtic captain Callum McGregor says the current team don't want to be remembered as Champions League "nearly men" and is relishing their "shootout" against Young Boys on Wednesday night.

Three points at home to the side bottom of the 36-team table would all but secure Celtic's place in the play-off stage for the first time since 2013.

"Obviously it's a big game, we know what's at stake," said McGregor.

"You've got to do everything you can to make sure you win these Champions League games and have a positive experience. If we do that then we know what lies ahead.

"We've tried and failed pretty much most of the time so it's a big step for the club. Everybody wants to be a part of it and we've done ever so well so far but we don't want to be the nearly team."

A draw against Young Boys, who have yet to pick up a point, could prove to be enough to take Celtic through with a game to spare but McGregor is focused solely on victory.

''We want to win the game, that's where our mentality is," said the midfielder.

"It's the same as we approach every game - we want to win no matter the competition. If you set out to play for a draw or whatever then straight away your psyche is not right and you're not quite at the top of the game."