Neil Lennon claims Kyogo Furuhashi isn’t cut out for ‘highest level’

Neil Lennon has questioned if Kyogo Furuhashi has what it takes to cut it at the top end of the English Premier League after the striker was linked with Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham.

The Japanese forward scored 34 goals as the Australian led Celtic to the Treble last season.

A £4.6million purchase from Vissel Kobe at the outset of Postecoglou’s tenure, the 28-year-old has been touted for a move to North London in the event that Bayern Munich land skipper Harry Kane.

While former Parkhead manager Lennon has been impressed with Furuhashi’s contribution over two years in Glasgow, he remains to be convinced that he is a ready-made fit for the heightened challenge Spurs would present.

‘I have my doubts, yes,’ he told Mail Sport. ‘I don’t think for one minute that he could replace Harry Kane, for example, if that was to be the case.

Neil Lennon questioned if Kyogo Furuhashi has what it takes to cut in the Premier League

Lennon says Kyogo Furuhashi is a long way off replacing the likes of Harry Kane at Spurs

The Japanese forward scored 34 goals as the Australian led Celtic to the Treble last season

‘He’s a good player. I like his style. I’m just not sure he could play consistently at the highest level in the Premier League on a week-to-week basis.

‘The other thing is that you’ve got Kane there at the minute, you’ve got (Heung-Min) Son, (Dejan) Kulusevski, Richarlison.

‘These are world-class players that he’d need to break into if he goes to Spurs. I think he could play in the Premier League but maybe just not at the top end at the minute.’

Meanwhile, Celtic are closing in on the signing of Australian international forward Marco Tilio.

Mail Sport understands the paperwork is being finalised and the deal for the Melbourne City attacker could be completed by the end of the week.

The versatile 21-year-old attacker is comfortable playing on either flank and can also operate through the middle. He scored nine goals for Melbourne City last season on their way to being crowned A-League champions.

Now he is set to become Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers’ second signing since the Northern Irishman returned to the club earlier this month to replace Postecoglou.

Meanwhile, Celtic are closing in on the signing of Australian international forward Marco Tilio

Mail Sport understands the paperwork is being finalised and the deal for the Melbourne City attacker could be completed by the end of the week 

Last week the Scottish champions announced the signing of Norwegian midfielder Odin Thiago Holm on a five-year deal.

The 20-year-old joined from Valerenga in his homeland for a fee of £2.5million — and Rodgers last week confirmed he was seeking more fresh faces to add to a squad that won the domestic Treble under Postecoglou last season.

He said: ‘It’s a good time to strengthen whenever you have done well. It’s not going to be lots of numbers.

‘Over the last couple of years they have built a squad, so it’s a case of developing that and adding quality where we can. I’m really excited with the players here because it’s a young squad and there’s still a lot of growth in that.’