Birmingham City plot late move for Celtic winger Yang

The St Andrew’s side, managed by Chris Davies – Brendan Rodgers’ former assistant at Celtic – are said to be keen to get a deal done before Monday’s transfer deadline.

In normal circumstances, Celtic even considering Yang’s departure would feel almost incredulous. Rodgers’ squad has already been exposed for its lack of depth in the wide areas, a flaw brutally highlighted in the draining 210 minutes plus penalties against Kairat Almaty. Losing another winger would appear unthinkable.

But this is not a normal moment at Celtic. Supporters’ anger at boardroom inertia has perhaps since ebbed into frustration, and now many are fighting off apathy – a state the club hierarchy all too often seem to rely upon. Against that backdrop, the question becomes whether it really benefits Celtic to keep hold of a player who looks unsettled and, crucially, has yet to deliver consistency.

Yang’s time in Glasgow has been defined by flashes of promise but little sustained impact

Yang’s time in Glasgow has been defined by flashes of promise but little sustained impact. His direct running and technical ability have caught the eye on occasion, and his out of possession work is admirable to a point. But his only truly consistent trait has been inconsistency. And with Rodgers likely to remain in charge until the summer at least, few expect the South Korean to suddenly unlock the missing ingredient to his game under the current regime.

For Birmingham and Davies, Yang could be a smart addition, and will add to Davies other previous Celtic signings in Tomoki Iwata and Kyogo – what we would have done for that wee fella last night.

Would any loan winger arriving this late really be a worse option than the Yang we’ve seen so far? Probably not

A switch to the Championship might offer Yang regular minutes, less suffocating expectation, and perhaps a step closer to the Premier League move he is said to aspire to.

For Celtic, meanwhile, if the move frees up the opportunity to bring in even a short-term replacement before the deadline, there may be little to lose. Would any loan winger arriving this late really be a worse option than the Yang we’ve seen so far? Probably not.

There is a player in Yang, no doubt – but not one who has managed to emerge consistently at Celtic

There is a player in Yang, no doubt – but not one who has managed to emerge consistently at Celtic. A move down south might finally give him the platform to find himself.

For Celtic, the bigger question is whether the board would act decisively in the next few days to ensure Yang’s departure, if indeed it happens, does not leave Rodgers with an even thinner hand to play.