Reliable journalist Mark Hendry has issued an update on the future of Yuki Kobayashi after rumours this afternoon that he would be departing the Scottish Champions. It had been reported that the player would leave on a loan deal but Football Scotland Deputy Editor Hendry has said that an exit has not been agreed.
Yuki Kobayashi is yet to agree any Celtic exit, contrary to recent reports.
Club keeping hold of him for now.@Football_Scot— Mark Hendry (@mhendry92) March 14, 2024
Kobayashi, who hasn’t featured in a Matchday squad since the win over Rangers at Ibrox in September, is still training around the first team. The player is below Gustaf Lagerbielke, who appears to be himself surplus to requirements under Brendan Rodgers, and below Stephen Welsh and Maik Nawrocki, who have deputised for Liam Scales and Cameron Carter-Vickers this season.
After arriving from Vissel Kobe, Kobayashi made just seven appearances and appeared increasingly uneasy with the pace and physical nature of Scottish football. It was telling that Ange decided to go with Tomoki Iwata over Kobayashi in the Scottish Cup Final after a poor showing at Ibrox by Kobayashi.
