Earlier this week, Celtic defender Greg Taylor admitted that he would welcome the prospect of a few more J-League imports arriving at Parkhead.
It seems he’s in luck.
“I can totally understand why the gaffer (Ange Postecoglou) will look at the Japanese market,” Taylor told Football Scotland, highlighting the remarkable impact Kyogo Furuhashi has made since his £4.6 million move from Vissel Kobe.
“You just need to look at how well Kyogo has done to see the talent that is there. He has been a breath of fresh air for us since coming to the club. He’s an infectious character with the way he plays, his work-rate and his goals.
“His level of performance has been top class and you look at his goal return. I can totally see why the manager would look to bring more players in from Japan. It makes total sense to me.”
Yosuke Ideguchi, then, will have Taylor’s seal of approval as he prepares to join compatriot Kyogo at one of Britain’s biggest clubs.
Is Yosuke Ideguchi Celtic’s first January signing?
According to Yahoo Japan, Celtic have reached an agreement with Gamba Osaka over a deal that will see the 25-year-old join for a fee in the region of £850,000.
There is still some red tape that must be overcome before Ideguchi is unveiled as a Celtic player, though it is expected that he will be travelling to the UK in order to undergo a medical before the year is out.
Not yet a ‘done deal’ but a deal that should be done sooner rather than later.
You can understand why some Celtic supporters have their doubts about Ideguchi.
The 2016 J-League Rookie of the Year failed to make a single appearance for Leeds United during his previous spell on European soil and was forced out by Marcelo Bielsa upon his arrival at Elland Road three years ago.
Ideguchi has rebuilt his reputation back home in Japan, however, and Postecoglou is well placed to pass judgement on the Celtic target, having gone head-to-head with Ideguchi a number of times as the manager of Yokohama F Marinos and the Australian international team.
Ideguchi’s long-range screamer in a 2-0 victory over the Socceroos secured Japan’s place at the 2018 World Cup.
Postecoglou will be hoping that the tireless, tenacious little midfielder will be producing such moments of match-winning magic for him rather than against him from now on.
By the time February rolls around, Celtic may have four Japanese players in their ranks; Furuhashi, Ideguchi, Reo Hatate and J-League Golden Boot winner Daizen Maeda.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
