Dan Orlowitz has vouched for last night’s story from Sponichi that Yuki Kobayashi is a Celtic transfer target with a January deal looking likely.
Since Ange Postecoglou was first linked with Celtic in May 2021 Orlowitz, who writes for the Japanese Times has been the go-to guy for the inside track.
Google translate can miss out on some detail but having a reporter on the ground with an understanding of how the media operates has helped clear up various issues, mainly transfer related.
Good morning to the 30 or so Celtic fans who followed me while I was sleeping to find out all about these Yuki Kobayashi reports, I will be out of bed and at my desk in a bit with more details but Sponichi certainly sound more confident than usual this time.
— x – Dan Orlowitz (@aishiterutokyo) October 30, 2022
At the age of 22 Kobanyshi is a little younger than most of Postecoglou’s signings, he is more Reo Hatate than Daizen Maeda, but with his knowledge of the J-League there is little doubt that this transfer target is driven wholly by the manager to strengthen an area of need in the Celtic squad.
Moritz Jenz is currently playing in the left centre-back position but with his deal from Lorient only a season long loan Postecoglou is already casting an eye towards next year.
Kobayashi uses the same agent as Yosuke Ideguchi and while the transfer of the midfielder hasn’t yet worked out there are clearly lines of communication between the Vissel Kobe defender and Celtic.
CLICK HERE for Orlowitz’s Twitter thread of Kobayashi.
CLICK HERE for Transfermarkt profile.