Celtic are reported to be interested in signing Kanji Okunuki from Nurenburg.
The midfielder has scored four goals in 15 matches this season in Bundesliga II which doesn’t come close to the expectations that Brendan Rodgers recently set out for January additions.
At the end of October the Celtic boss effectively called a halt on project signings when he said ‘It is more quality than quantity, for me’.
Okunuki is a little older at 24 but it is quite a leap to expect someone from Bundesliga II to be ready to go into the Champions League, as well as Nurenberg he has turned out for Górnik Zabrze and Japanese side Omiya Ardija.
Rodgers’ comments suggested that he’d be looking to bring in players like Josip Juranovic, Giorgos Giakoumakis and Carl Starfelt who were all established in top leagues or at international level.
Explaining the link to Okunuki, The Sun reports:
BRENDAN RODGERS is reportedly keen to add another Japanese player to his squad in January.
Kanji Okunuki, 24, is said to be on the Celtic boss’ shortlist after scouts were impressed by his displays following a recent scouting mission in Germany.
The attacking midfielder currently plays for 2. Bundesliga club FC Nurnberg, where he has been since the summer following his move from Japanese side Omiya Ardija.
He got his first taste of European football last season as he spent the campaign on loan at Polish outfit Górnik Zabrze before impressing Nurnberg and sealing his move to Germany.
Okunuki has scored four goals and provided two assists in 15 appearances across all competition this term with Nurnberg currently sitting eighth in the second-tier.
Over the last 12 months Celtic have signed Tomoki Iwata, Odin Thiago Holm and Kwon Hyeuk-Hyu to play in midfield as well as taking midfielder Paulo Bernardo on loan from Benfica.
Linking Celtic with any Japanese player is going to carry some credibility but it is hard to see Okunuki matching Rodgers’ expectations.
With six weeks to go until the January transfer window opens business should be well underway, last season Alistair Johnston, Yuki Kobayashi and Iwata were signed up in advance with the first two taking part in the Portuguese training camp during the World Cup break.
Oh FFS, this has “LAWWELL” written all over it. (Already preparing to fail in case we get too far ahead of his favourites from Ibrox. GHTF.)
We DO NOT need any more midfielders and we need to trim the squad and concentrate on QUALITY instead of projects.
Oh, and we NEED a fukkin’ ‘keeper. FFS.
Brendan and the rest of us can forget about experienced players being brought in it’s punts all the way from the Lawwell gruesome twosome.
The fat one better get his bags packed again if the huns win the league, and he can take private Pike with him.
We dare not ALLOW this to happen. There have been too many fait accomplis in our history including the intentional blowing of THE TEN. They (the board) may be temporarily calling the shots but in CELTIC SUPPORTERS lies the long-term heart and soul of Celtic FC. The PLC should be ousted by supporters collectives and the club taken into control by those who PAY for it, not LEECH off it.
Is it possible, does anyone know, to have this brought up at the AGM asking for unequivocal guarantees that we’ll strengthen the team from the ‘keeper forward where THE MANAGER instructs the Board of required reinforcement needs? I’m not sure but we can’t leave this to Lawwell & Son. (Sounds and behaves more like the rag and bone man than elite football club executives!!)
Hail! Hail! LAWWELLS OUT along with Desmond and all the others.
TAL