Celtic have already completed a brilliant transfer involving a J1 League player in the form of Kyogo Furuhashi. He has arrived in the summer and taken Scottish football by storm, and might already be the most important player for the Hoops. And now, it looks like the club might be closing in on another J1 League superstar.
After spending years managing in Japan, Ange Postecoglou was always expected to look there for talent. That was always going to be difficult in the summer though considering the fact that that is the middle of the J1 League season.
It is expected to be much easier in the January transfer window, with the J1 League season finished by that point of time. And one player that Celtic appear to have their eyes set on is Yokohama F. Marinos’ Daizen Maeda.
Celtic are reportedly closing in on a move for Maeda in January
Postecoglou would know Maeda well from their time together at Yokohama F. Marinos. And it looks like a reunion could possibly lie in their future.
As reported by The Times, Celtic are confident of adding Maeda to their team in the January transfer window. Well-placed sources in Japan expect a deal to be done.
It is not hard to see why Celtic might be interested in signing the Japanese star. He has been absolutely spectacular recently and is the leading goalscorer in the J1 League this season at the moment.
According to stats from Transfermarkt, Maeda has scored 18 goals in 30 J1 League appearances this season.
Capable of playing as a second striker, a left winger or a centre forward, Maeda is a very versatile player. Signing someone like him could prove to be a brilliant move on the part of Celtic and add a lot of flexibility to their options up top.
Now, it remains to be seen if a move can be done but the early signs are certainly very positive.
This article was originally posted here