There are now rumours that it’s already time up for Yuki Kobayashi at Celtic, but would a loan deal to another Scottish side not be more beneficial than sending him back to play his football in the J-League?
Yuki Kobayashi is certainly in the firing line at the moment. The Japanese defender was a January signing by Ange Postecoglou and so far hasn’t even played ten games for the club, but already he’s been judged as a flop. Is that fair?
Yuki Kobayashi during the Scottish Cup Fourth Round match between Celtic and Morton at Celtic Park on January 21, 2023 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Yuki looked calm and composed on his first two appearances for the club and being naturally left footed he gave us perfect balance at centre back. Unfortunately for Yuki he had a couple of poor games in the run in after the title was clinched, particularly ain the dead rubber at Ibrox and also at Easter Road.
It’s only natural his strength and ability was called into question but to be judged a write off so soon? That’s extreme, even by our demanding supporters’ standards.
The most sensible idea in my eyes would be a loan to another top flight Scottish side, perhaps Aberdeen. He could continue to get experience of our country and playing in our league and it would benefit him greatly and allow Brendan Rodgers to discover if any doubts about Kobayashi’s suitability to play his football in the more physically demanding Scottish Premiership are unfounded.
Yuki Kobayashi of Celtic FC
Essentially Yuki should be given the chance to prove everyone wrong and he’s not going to do that at Celtic if he isn’t going to get much game-time.
Something similar to Kristoffer Ajer when he had a loan spell at Kilmarnock, a move that benefited him greatly. Would the same sort of move benefit Yuki? It’s maybe something worth considering. Aberdeen had Liam Scales on loan from Celtic last season and that has allowed the Irish defender to get himself sorted as a competent defender playing in the Scottish Premiership. And remember that goal he scored against theRangers?
Photo by Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock. Celtic’s on loan defender Liam Scales scores for Aberdeen and celebrates with team mates after his long range looping effort beat theRangers veteran goalkeeper Allan McGregor to give Aberdeen a 1-0 lead. Aberdeen v theRangers, Cinch Scottish Premiership, Pittodrie. Aberdeen won the match 2-0.
With Yuki Kobayashi on a five year deal, Celtic have the time to look for a solution, as it’s unlikely that there will be clubs queuing up to buy the player at the moment. If Yuki Kobayashi is simply sent back to Japan on loan that will not really tell Celtic anything, so any move to the J-League ideally should be a transfer rather than a loan.
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