Yuki Kobayashi could exit Celtic on loan in the coming days with a number of MLS sides interested in signing the Japanese defender. The 23-year-old hasn’t made an appearance this season and it has been expected that he would be moved on to find game time.
According to The Sun, Real Salt Lake and FC Dallas are interested in Kobayashi, who hasn’t featured in a Matchday squad since the win over Rangers at Ibrox in September.
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.
Harry Kewell is reportedly monitoring the situation for Kobayashi, with the Australian now at the helm of Yokohama F Marinos. The report also says that the defender is available for either a transfer or a loan as Brendan Rodgers attempts to trim his squad.
Nat Phillips returned to Liverpool at the beginning of the month and Gustaf Lagerbielke is also expected to be made available to move on, leaving Rodgers with four central defenders – Cameron Carter-Vickers, Liam Scales, Maik Nawrocki and Stephen Welsh.
