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Gangwon, Yang Hyun-jun hold talks over possible Celtic transfer

Published: 06 Jul. 2023, 15:24 Updated: 06 Jul. 2023, 17:20

Gangwon FC's Yang Hyun-jun, left, dribbles the ball during a K League game against Suwon FC at Suwon Sports Complex in Suwon, Gyeonggi on June 25. [YONHAP]

Gangwon FC officials held talks with midfielder Yang Hyun-jun on Wednesday and agreed to review the club’s decision to block a transfer to Celtic this summer, the club announced on the same day.

“Gangwon President Kim Byung-ji met with Yang and the two had a candid discussion,” a spokesperson for the club told local reporters on Wednesday. “We have also decided to fully review the ‘no summer transfer’ policy.”

Yang has been in conflict with the club for weeks after he was blocked from transferring to Scottish Premiership side Celtic.

Celtic made an initial offer to Gangwon at the end of May, with the team looking to sign Yang to reinforce their winger position.

The Scottish team’s offer came after the 21-year-old displayed an impressive performance last season in the K League, managing eight goals and four assists for Gangwon. His main role at the club is to break through the defense.

Celtic reportedly offered Gangwon 2.5 million euros (3.5 billion won) for Yang, but Gangwon have insisted that he is not for sale this summer as the team is currently struggling in the relegation zone in the K League.

The refusal came as a surprise to Yang, who believed that the club had promised him last year, when an offer from the United States was blocked, that it would support a future move to Europe.

Gangwon stood firm, saying the club would only permit winter transfers this year, but Yang refused to back down. He went public with his criticism of the club and its refusal to honor its promise to him, saying that the club’s president Kim had refused to meet with his representatives and even offering to give Gangwon his salary if they would let him go.

Prior to Wednesday’s meeting, Kim also lashed out at Yang, saying he had met with the young midfielder’s camp multiple times and accusing them of duplicity.

Wednesday’s meeting may have put an end to those arguments, but it remains to be seen whether the recent talks will actually pave the way to a move to Celtic — as of press time Thursday, Gangwon have only agreed to review the transfer policy, not change it.

If Yang does move to Celtic, he will be joining Korean midfielder Oh Hyeon-gyu and a squad stocked with players from the Asia-Pacific region as former manager Ange Postecoglou — who has now left to coach Tottenham Hotspur with Brendan Rogers taking the helm on June 19 — utilized his coaching experienced in Japan and Australia to recruit players.

BY JIM BULLEY [[email protected]]