‘Straight back’ – Journalist suggests Celtic’s interesting plan for Hayato Inamura ahead of transfer

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Another Japanese star is on his way to Celtic.

It’s a niche market that has worked very well for Celtic over the years, booming under Ange Postecoglou, and now continuing to succeed with Brendan Rodgers in the dugout.

The next man from Japan expected through the doors of the Scottish champions is Hayato Inamura of Albirex Niigata.

Inamura posted a farewell to Niigata fans on Monday, and his club confirmed that he will be leaving, but they didn’t state Celtic’s name; instead wrote ‘overseas’ club.

It has been well-documented that Inamura will be a Celtic player pretty soon, and he is expected to add further bite, quality and competition to the club’s centre-back area.

Or perhaps, Brendan Rodgers has other plans for the 23-year-old?

• READ MORE: All eight Japanese players to play for Celtic as Hayato Inamura closes in on move

Celtic’s possible Hayato Inamura plan ahead of transfer from Albirex Niigata

There are a lot of centre-backs on Celtic’s books who, either aren’t performing or playing, so you would expect that it makes Inamura’s plans easier to earn minutes.

But Scottish journalist Roger Hannah told Clyde 1 Superscoreboard that ‘the plan’, from Celtic, might be to loan Inamura straight back out.

That’s either a return to his current club in Japan or possibly to a ‘European league’, given the lack of experience at this level.

“I don’t think Inamura will see the first team next season,” said Hannah. “I think the plan might be to either loan him straight back to his club in Japan or loan him to a European league.

“It would be a huge leap for the lad to go from the level he has been playing at and straight into the Celtic first team. I think it’s too big a leap.”

Who will partner Cameron Carter-Vickers next season?

Nobody is going to argue that Cameron Carter-Vickers is the main man at the back for Rodgers; it’s just a case of who partners him?

Auston Trusty and Liam Scales can’t cement down a place, whilst others, such as Maik Nawrocki, can’t seem to earn regular minutes.

Therefore, you can’t see the logic behind Inamura leaving on loan, even if he has only been playing at the top level for two years.