Celtic are nearing completion of a trio of January deals with J-League trio Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate and Yosuke Ideguchi close to being announced. According to The Daily Record, the three have agreed personal terms after deals were thrashed out for the Japanese Internationalists as the deals get closer to being sealed.
Maeda and Ideguchi have already arrived in the UK with work permits being sorted whilst Hatate is slightly behind the other pair having finished his season later than the other pair. Ange Postecoglou knows the trio and will want them signed on the 1st of January, allowing Celtic to register them.
The manager wanted the trio in ahead of theRangers clash but given this was moved, the urgency was reduced. However, the Australian will certainly want the trio to be part of his training sessions as they look forward to the league returning in January.
The report also says that the club are eyeing other deals in January but are keen to get these three over the line as they look to build the squad in the manager’s image. Hatate and Ideguchi will arrive from Kawasaki Frontale and Gamba Osaka respectively whilst Postecoglou raids former employers Yokohama F Marinos in a loan-to-buy deal for Maeda.
Sponichi: “Final countdown” for Daizen Maeda and Yosuke Ideguchi, who have gotten their work permits and flown to Europe for medicals ahead of joining Celtic.
Reo Hatate expected to fly over “in the new year.”https://t.co/JbG9RxYjB7
— x Dan Orlowitz (@aishiterutokyo) December 30, 2021
Players like Vasilis Barkas, Boli Bolingoli and Albian Ajeti will likely be considered for the exit door as the manager looks to free up wages and funds for players that suit his style.
