J-League striker Soma Kanda being watched closely by Celtic

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Celtic are keeping a close eye on Kawasaki Frontale striker Soma Kanda.

Sources in Japan tell 67 Hail Hail that the 20-year-old is being investigated by Parkhead scouts, having attracted interest from the Championship earlier in the year.

Kanda has had limited playing time for Kawasaki of late, but has impressed for Japan at youth level. He is studying English in preparation for an early move.

Unlike previous J-League imports for Celtic such as Reo Hatate and Kyogo Furuhashi, he bypassed the country’s famed University system, heading straight into the J-League as a teenager.

Should Celtic still be shopping in the J-League market?

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Kawasaki Frontale Soma Kanda unlikely to be a starter for Celtic

Kanda remains on the fringes of the first team at Kawasaki, despite being highly-rated there.

He partially carried the load after their sale of Shin Yamada to Celtic created a vacancy in the striker position.

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More recently, however, he has been used almost exclusively as a substitute, with Kyosuke Mochiyama, Laxar Romanic and Erison de Souza ahead of him in the pecking order.

It remains to be seen if a move will be pursued this summer. The J-League will complete its transition to a summer-to-summer calendar this season, reflecting that of Scotland.

Dermot Desmond has already vowed to back Martin O’Neill in this summer’s transfer window, saying after his appointment: “Time and time again, Martin has shown his qualities and what he can bring to Celtic.

“We know he is a winner, we know what the club means to him and he continues to be the outstanding candidate to give us the best opportunity to realise our objectives.

“He knows the demands at Celtic and I know how determined he is again to bring success to the club and to our supporters.

“The club will support Martin fully again across the close season to make sure we are well prepared to achieve domestic success and compete on the European stage.”