This time last year, Celtic all-but tied up a trio of Japan internationals, Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate and Yosuke Ideguchi, long before the January window even opened, with two-thirds of those winter arrivals playing a key role as Ange Postecoglou’s debut season at the helm ended with a maiden Scottish Premiership title.
12 months on, history appears to be repeating itself.
Earlier this week, Yuki Kobayashi became the fifth Japanese footballer to join Postecoglou’s Parkhead revolution, signing a five-year deal after leaving Vissel Kobe on a free transfer.
According to Transfermarkt, Alistair Johnston could join him sooner rather than later. Talks between Celtic and Johnston’s MLS employers Montreal CF are already an at advanced stage; the £5 million-rated Canada international catching the eye during Wednesday’s unfortunate 1-0 defeat to Belgium at the Qatar World Cup.
No one could accuse the Scottish champions, already nine points clear of Old Firm rivals Rangers at the top of the Premiership, of resting on their laurels. No one could accuse Postecoglou, meanwhile, of failing to make good on his word.
“There might be a couple of others (at the World Cup) I’m looking at,” Postecoglou said rather coyly this week, shortly before Kobayashi was announced (Football Scotland). “It is fair to say there’s a couple lined up.
“It’s how we’ve done things and how I believe we need to be. It’s how I’m built. I don’t like rushing around last minute. If we can get guys (signed) early, once January 1st hits they are already part of this football club.”
Yuki Kobayashi the first of a few January signings at Celtic
With things moving as quickly as they are, there’s a very good chance that Johnston also becomes a Celtic player before the final tinkle of Jools Holland’s ivories on New Year’s night. And keep an eye on long-term target Mohamed ‘Asfha’ Magdy too.
The Egyptian’s agent claimed that Celtic were interested both in 2020 and 2021. Now, according to reports in his homeland, that interested is being re-visited; a loan-to-buy deal on the cards.
El Ahly’s Afsha could potentially step into Tom Rogic’s mystical boots at Parkhead. He’s smaller, quicker and more dynamic than the languid Australian, but possesses the same awe-inspiring technical ability and a penchant for rabbit-out-of-the-hat magic. The 26-year-old playmaker produced 10 goals and five assists last season. And, with that fearsome cocktail of technique and tenacity, Afsha looks every inch like a footballer tailor-made for Postecoglou’s system.
You can say the same for Johnston. According to the Daily Record, Celtic planned to use the World Cup break to find a long-term successor for Josip Juranovic, with the likes of Atletico Madrid and Manchester United keeping keen eyes on the Croatian. And 24-year-old Johnston shares many of the same attributes that made Juranovic such a key player under Postecoglou. Aggressive both in defence and attack, the Canadian is tactically flexible and an excellent technician.
“Depending on the opposition, sometimes he can play as a centre-back. (And) sometimes he can play as a wing-back,” explains Montreal coach Wilfried Nancy. “We like to change the way we play week by week. He is so clever that he is able to understand all the nuances in the game.
“For me, after that, it was a no-brainer that he can (also) play as a wing-back. What I like about him is that he’s able to understand quickly.”
‘A great opportunity’
Kobayashi, meanwhile, is the rarest of beasts; a young, left-sided centre-half snapped up without the need for a bank-busting outlay.
“Yuki is someone that we’ve been following for a while,” Postecoglou explains. “It was a great opportunity to bring him in. He’s a left-sided centre-back, and they’re hard to find.”
As you might expect given Celtic’s interest, Kobayashi is as comfortable starting attacks as he is stopping them. His arrival gives the Hoops some genuine competition for Moritz Jenz, too, freeing up the right-footed Carl Starfelt to flit across to his more natural role.
“Yuki’s good in the air,” writes statistical expert Sacha Pisani on Twitter. “He reads, anticipates the game well. Comfortable on ball as left-footer and very good at blocking shots. A lot of upside.”
Rangers might look like a team stuck in quicksand, sinking as Celtic streak away into the distance, but this is no time for complacency. Celtic are strengthening from a position of strength, and they are not going to loosen their stranglehold on the domestic game any time soon.
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