Hot on the news that terms have been agreed for Daizen Maeda to join Celtic a separate report from Japan has described Yosuke Ideguchi as ‘Celtic bound’.Â
Japan Times reporter Dan Orlowitz has become the go-to guy for Hoops fans since May when Ange Postecoglou was linked with the vacant manager’s job.Â
Orlowitz has never claimed to be ‘in-the-know’ about transfer news but being in the Japanese media he is able to pick up on transfer tales, put them in context and analyse them outside of Google Translate.Â
Last night there was a frenzy of stories as the Maeda deal moved forward but with the transfer window opening up at the weekend another story emerged with Ideguchi appearing almost as a done deal with his club, Gamba Osaka appearing to have agreed a deal with Shonan Bellmare to sign Mitsuki Saito as a replacement. Â
Separating this from Maeda thread:
Hochi reporting that Gamba Osaka aiming to sign Shonan Bellmare MF Mitsuki Saito (currently on loan to Rubin Kazan), describing him as a replacement for “Celtic-bound Yosuke Ideguchi.”
Strong language but early yet.https://t.co/w2IGVhAyYX
— x Dan Orlowitz (@aishiterutokyo) December 29, 2021
Yahoo News Japan reports:
On the 29th, Gamba Osaka became rich in winning Russia’s first division Rubin Kazan midfielder Mitsuki Saito (22). It is expected that the transfer will be for a limited time from Shonan, who holds the ownership right. Midfielder Yosuke Ideguchi (25), who will be transferred to Celtic in the first division of Scotland, will be joined by a voluntary team with further growth potential for the Tokyo Olympics .
 Ideguchi signed for Leeds in January 2018 but after 18 months spent out on loan returned to Gamba Osaka.Â
James McCarthy was the only first team midfielder signed by Celtic during the summer despite Scott Brown, Ryan Christie and Olivier Ntcham moving on during the summer.Â
With David Turnbull expected to be out injured until the back end of February there is every chance that Ideguchi will go straight into the Celtic side when the season resumes on January 17 with a visit from Hibs.Â
Ideguchi’s Transfermarkt profile.
Good to see celtic getting business done early big change from summer window when all the talk was outward players angi done well his only mistake and I think most make picking eduardo to lead line against new co when player wasn’t focused but team has improved injuries to top players aside won Cup 6 points behind leaders dominating last six games with all teams parking bus we got a big striker who I think would have made a difference goals don’t lie and he scores plenty he will be a big part of run in