Swansea City urged to strike unlikely deal for £10m Birmingham City man - but "it's a very big risk" | OneFootball

The Japanese forward has been the subject of transfer talk throughout the window

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Swansea City have been urged to consider a short-term swoop for Birmingham City striker, Kyogo Furuhashi, despite the Japanese forward's hefty wage earnings at St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park.

Blues parted with a fee upwards of £10 million to lure the 31-year-old to the West Midlands from Stade Rennais in July, with the hope that the Japanese forward would rekindle his goalscoring touch from a trophy-laden stint with Scottish Premiership giants, Celtic.

However, the first months of Furuhashi's three-year contract at St. Andrew's has been one of overall frustration, although the striker will hope he has now turned a corner following recent strikes against Cambridge United and Sheffield Wednesday, with the latter of those representing a first Championship goal of the season in the 2-0 success at Hillsborough on January 20th.

Birmingham have overseen a major squad reshuffle throughout the transfer window, and such developments have been somewhat evident in Chris Davies' striking department.

Indeed, one of eight departees from the B9 outfit so far comes in the form of Scotland international, Lyndon Dykes, who moved to Charlton Athletic on a short-term contract, whilst Blues welcomed highly-rated Danish forward, August Priske, on a long-term deal from Djurgardens IF.

As a result of his slow start to life in the EFL with Blues, Kyogo - who reportedly earns £40,000 per week - had become the subject of a potentially shock return to Parkhead under Martin O'Neill, before the Hoops' interim boss subsequently quashed such rumours.

However, it was reported over the weekend, during which Swansea were defeated 2-1 by Hull City, that Furuhashi had emerged as a transfer target for the South Wales club, with Blues said to be 'willing to listen to offers'.

As such, Football League World's Swansea City fan pundit, Will Hughes, believes a short-term deal could benefit all parties, with Kyogo potentially offering a different dimension to Vitor Matos' side beyond the services of the Championship's top scorer, Zan Vipotnik.

Swansea City urged to consider Kyogo Furuhashi transfer amid Zan Vipotnik exit claim

Speaking to FLW, Hughes stated that Furuhashi has several attributes that could allow him to flourish in Matos' high-pressing style of play, despite his initial struggles with Swansea's divisional rivals.

"It's a very interesting state of affairs and a very interesting rumour, to be honest," Will told FLW.

"I'll be honest, I wouldn't have thought the Swans would even be looking at Kyogo. Not after the money Birmingham spent on him, so it's a surprise.

"But look, do I think he's a good player? Yes. Do I think he's had a good season? No. Would I take him at the Swans? Yes, but it depends on what sort of transfer (it is) really," Hughes explained.

"If we're going to be buying him out of his contract and taking on his very heavy wages, then, at 31, I look at it and I think, well, 'that's not really a good signing'.

"In the long run, he might score a lot of goals for us. I think he'd suit Matos' style of play of the high press and, on the front foot, intensity football. I think that would work well for him, and I think he'd fit in very well.

"Again, it's a very big risk, especially with his age, as I say, his wages and everything, and a potential transfer fee.

"However, if we were just looking to bring him in on loan for the rest of the season, I don't see that as an issue with Birmingham.

"They know we can't play Birmingham again. The issue, maybe, would be, is he going to get in (to the Swansea side) with his form?," Hughes deliberated.

"He might be a better fit for the pressing system, but obviously, at the end of the day, he has got to score goals as well, and that's one thing he hasn't done this season for Birmingham. But, again, just because he's not scoring for one team doesn't mean he won't for another.

"So, look, if the deal is right. For instance, a loan to the end of the season where Birmingham covered a fair wedge of his high wages, I don't see that as an issue.

"I think he would actually be quite an exciting signing, to be honest. He's got a lot of attributes I like and a lot of attributes that I don't think any of our strikers have, really.

"He's very quick, he can press well, he can run the channels, he can make runs in behind, he's quick in the box as well, he's got good feet from what I've seen as well. There's a lot to like about him," said Hughes.

I would see it, maybe, as a stop-gap signing until the end of the season, until when I think Vipotnik goes. Because he wouldn't be a long-term replacement, to be honest.

"I would 100 percent take him in, as I say, if the deal was right. So we'll wait and see, you know, we've still got a couple of days until the end of the window.

"Hopefully we get in another striker. And who knows, you know, if it is to be Kyogo till the end of the season, so be it. I'd be on board with it."

Kyogo Furuhashi could flourish in a new environment amid Birmingham City struggles

As Hughes mentioned, Kyogo would offer Swansea a different option to Vipotnik, who has demonstrated a poacher's instinct thus far despite missing two golden chances at the MKM Stadium on Saturday.

The Slovenian had previously attracted interest from West Ham United, and whilst such talk has cooled, the striker is bound to continue doing exactly that if his strong form continues.

A different way of playing could also bring the best out of Kyogo, who has seen his gametime reduced at St. Andrew's over time whilst also missing a high number of 'big chances' throughout his 26 league appearances so far this season.