Celtic could be heading to Japan once more to beef up their squad.
The 2025 summer transfer window is open, and fans are eager to see just how the club enhances the squad after picking up two trophies last season.
When Ange Postecoglou was appointed Celtic manager in 2021 from J-League side Yokohama F. Marinos, it opened a door that has become hugely successful for the club.
The Treble-winner at Celtic brought in players from Japan, including the likes of Reo Hatate, Daizen Maeda and Kyogo Furuhashi.
And now, with Brendan Rodgers in charge, they are going down the same road by looking to bring in Hayato Inamura from Albirex Niigata.
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What qualities Hayato Inamura will bring under Brendan Rodgers if he signs for Celtic
Celtic’s issue is on the left side, with Cameron Carter-Vickers a certain pick, but the likes of Auston Trusty, Liam Scales and Maik Nawrocki not being able to cement down their place for one reason or another.
But with talk that Celtic could sign Inamura, it was suggested by Frank McAvennie that he will certainly have the quality to be able to ‘play out from the back’.
Speaking on his Let Me Be Frank Podcast, it was discussed how Celtic, going down this Japanese market, has produced more ‘success’ than ‘failure’.
Simon Houston stated: “They are in close talks to sign the Japanese left-sided centre-back, Hayato Inamura, who can play left-back as well. It looks like that is going to possibly be cover for Kieran Tierney.”
McAvennie responded: “Isn’t he a centre-half?”
Houston then continued: “Aye, a left-sided centre-half, but can also play left-back. But this is Rodgers, maybe copying the Ange blueprint.”
McAvennie then added: “It’s a market that hasn’t been touched. You can argue about the Japanese league by saying it’s not as good as ours. But you just look at the boys who have come in, and they have done brilliantly.”
Houston pointed out: “Far more success stories than failures for Celtic in recent years. Daizen. Kyogo.”
McAvennie added: “I will tell you one thing, the guy will be able to play it out because that’s Brendan. He has to be able to play the ball and be comfortable with the ball at his feet. That’s what Brendan wants. I hope he can defend as well, though.”
Celtic’s success stories with Japanese players
Shunsuke Nakamura is the main guy, and that will forever remain that way because he was the first cult hero from Japan to put on the Celtic colours.
But since then, many great players have joined Scotland’s most successful club, including the current duo, Reo Hatate and Daizen Maeda.
Japanese players who represented Celtic: Tomoki Iwata, Yuki Kobayashi, Yosuke Ideguchi, Daizen Maeda, Kyogo Furuhashi, Reo Hatate, Koki Mizuno, and Shunsuke Nakamura.
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