After the report broke from Yahoo Japan about the deal to take Daizen Maeda to Celtic was in the final stages, it has been reported from several reputable media outlets in Japan that the Hoops will be making two more acquisitions from the J-League.
Kyodo News are now reporting that two of Maeda’s compatriots, Yosuke Ideguchi and Reo Hatate will be joining the attacker at Paradise come January. Ideguchi, 25, plays for Gamba Osaka and will presumably be another midfielder to help Callum McGregor and Nir Bitton at the base of the Celtic midfield. Hatate, 24, is a utility player who can play a variety of positions that could be crucial to Ange Postecoglou and the demand that is placed upon his players.
With three additions from Japan, it is a league Celtic definitely look to be making significant strides in. A market Ange knows well and if there is value for money to be had it could prove to be a pivotal source of talent in a post-Brexit world. Ange rates the J-League very highly and it will be intriguing to see how these signings pan out.
If they turn out anything like Kyogo Furuhashi, we’re sure to be in for a treat come the opening of the January transfer window.
セルティックが前田大然ら獲得へ 井手口陽介と旗手怜央も | 2021/12/5 – 共同通信 https://t.co/TO5k5wXrOT
— The Celtic Star Editor (@CelticStarMag) December 4, 2021
セルティックが前田大然ら獲得へ 井手口陽介と旗手怜央も https://t.co/Dv8uxsdFk0 #ニュース #47NEWS #共同通信ニュース
— 47NEWS (@47news_official) December 4, 2021
RE: Celtic triple-bid,
At first glance I think it’s kind of insane b/c I still remember when Ideguchi threw his international career away with the Leeds thing.
But when Japan’s biggest news agency reports it all & cites sources, they have my attention.https://t.co/KrBtIQkwR2
— x Dan Orlowitz (@aishiterutokyo) December 4, 2021
Paul Gillespie
🇯🇵 | Celtic X Japan
Celtic are set to complete the signings of Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate & Yosuke Ideguchi in the upcoming January Transfer Window.
[@47news_official] pic.twitter.com/G4qw4S81K2
— Everything Celtic (@aboutceltic) December 4, 2021
would there be any issues regarding work permits ?
None of these players come close to qualifying under the current UK rules. Maeda has about as many caps as Kaoru Mitoma, who West Ham had to loan out because he was rejected for a visa (FWIW Mitoma is twice as good as any of these three). The other two have even fewer NT caps and Ideguchi, in fact, was already once rejected for a visa when he signed with Leeds … ended up in Spain and it nearly ruined his career.
Not saying it COULDNT happen. I can think of plenty of past examples of rules being bent “for the right team” . . . but there are reasons to question the accuracy of the reports.