It’s being reported Celtic are closing in on the signing of Yokohama Marinos striker Daizen Maeda.
Japan Yahoo Sports claim Celtic and Marinos have come to an agreement on an initial loan deal for the striker with the deal becoming permanent in the summer.
Maeda has been prolific for Ange’s old side in Japan and looks like he’s about to hook up with the manager in Glasgow.
The really great thing about this signing would be the fact Daizen knows exactly how Ange wants his team to play. The frontman has scored 23 goals in 36 appearances in the J-League this season.
Daizen is 24 and has two Japanese caps to his name so far. If he does come in, the player could be in line for a place in the squad for the Glasgow derby the first game after the transfer window opens.
Ange is really ramping up his transfer efforts and looking to a pool of players he knows very well. Given Kyogo’s success to this point, you won’t see many fans arguing about the transfer strategy.
Would rather they just buy him now instead of a loan, but that could be down to his January budget. I can understand taking European based players on loan, but the J league has finished for this season, so Maeda & Hatate should be permanent signings and further boost in the summer
Will be great to hear the Celtic faithful start singing ‘Turning Japanese’…anything’s better than the woeful Penny Arcade shite I have to endure here in Tenerife…
It makes more sense to get the year loan with first refusal option because if the player, any new player, can’t settle or get the way Ange wants his teams to play he can head back to his parent club and we aren’t lumbered with him for 3-5 years