A report from Japan has claimed that negotiations are well underway for Celtic to sign Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate and Yosuke Ideguchi from the J-League in January.
If true it would give then squad a significant boost for the second half of the season and underline the influence of Ange Postecoglou on all areas of the club.
Six months after becoming Celtic manager the Australian hasn’t brought in a single coach but if he increases the clubs J-League contingent from one to four it will be a real statement of intent.
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— 47NEWS (@47news_official) December 4, 2021
Translates to: Celtic to win Daizen Maeda Yosuke Ideguchi and Reo Hatate
The report from 47 NEWS claims:
On the 4th, Celtic of the Scottish Premier League of soccer has embarked on the acquisition of Yokohama F. Marinos FW Daizen Maeda (24), Gamba Osaka midfielder Yosuke Ideguchi (25), and Kawasaki midfielder Reo Hatate (24). , I understood from the story of the person concerned. Yokohama M and Gamba Osaka respect their wishes and are willing to negotiate positively.
It is unusual for an overseas club to aim for three Japanese players at once. Postecoglou, who led Yokohama F. Marinos for three and a half years and moved to Celtic in June, highly praised the J-League players, and Kyogo Furuhashi, who joined from Kobe this season, is also playing an active role.
Maeda and Hatate have been strongly speculated over in the last six weeks but Ideguchi is a fresh name to most Celtic fans.
During the summer James McCarthy was the only midfielder signed while Scott Brown, Ryan Christie and Olivier Ntcham moved on.
Getting back-up to Tom Rogic has been a priority for Postecoglou, elsewhere in midfield David Turnbull and Callum McGregor have started every match over the last two months with no realistic alternatives to the Scotland duo.
CLICK HERE for Ideguchi Tranafermarkt profile