Celtic are expecting to tie up three January signings in Reo Hatate, Yosuke Ideguchi and Daizen Maeda – but there will be no other incomings.
Celtic ready for triple Japanese swoop with Hatate, Ideguchi and Maeda
Football Scotland report that Celtic are expecting to make three signings for the start of the January window.
Kawasaki Frontale utility man Reo Hatate is one of them. A two-time title-winner in Japan, Hatate can offer versatility at left back and in midfield.
Former Leeds man Ideguchi is expected to join too. Currently with Gamba Osaka, Ideguchi is a holding midfielder or box-to-box player.
Attacker Maeda is also coming in having worked with Ange Postecoglou at Yokohama F. Marinos in Japan.
Maeda has just won the top scorer award in Japan after 23 goals in 36 games in 2021.
Celtic hope to have all three players signed before facing Rangers on January 2nd.
The trio may not be able to play in that game, but Hatate, Ideguchi and Maeda are seemingly set for Celtic.
Celtic unlikely to make more signings
If Celtic thought that Hatate, Ideguchi and Maeda were the start of a January influx they could be disappointed.
It’s suggested that signing the three Japanese players would be the end of Celtic’s transfer business in January.
A permanent deal for Jota could be sanctioned, but that would be all.
Instead of more signings, the focus would be on getting the best out of summer signings Liam Scales, James McCarthy and Giorgos Giakoumakis, who haven’t featured much for Celtic.
Still, getting Hatate, Ideguchi and Maeda on board would give Celtic a major lift heading into 2022.
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