Celtic preparing to do business to strengthen Title Challenge

The Celtic Star

·30 November 2021

Celtic preparing to do business to strengthen Title Challenge

Celtic Are Prepared To Do Business To Strengthen Title Chances…

Celtic currently trail Cinch Premiership league leaders theRangers by four points. But, after Steven Gerrard departed from Ibrox, there is increased optimism that they will implode (as happened in the 3-1 League Cup semi-final defeat to Hibs) and Ange Postecoglou wants to do the right business, in and out, to make sure Celtic are ready to take advantage.

Of course, the primary intention from Celtic and Postecoglou will be to strengthen the first team and squad. It’s no secret that the Australian manager who joined the club in the summer wants more quality, and he’s already identified several players including two from Japan.

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Reo Hatate of Japan in action during the U-24 international friendly match between Japan and Spain at the Noevir Stadium Kobe on July 17, 2021 in kobe, Hyogo, Japan. (Photo by Koki Nagahama/Getty Images)

Reo Hatate, a left-back who currently plies his trade with Kawasaki Frontale in the J-League, a division Postecoglou knows well. The 24-year-old is said to already be in talks with Celtic, as he will become a free agent at the end of January, which makes the deal even more tempting. It is likely that Celtic will pay a small fee and the player will arrive as soon as the transfer window opens rather than at the end if January. This would most likely result in new to the online betting scene, PartySports and other bookies covering the Scottish scene, shortening their odds on Celtic overturning their current deficit, and Hatate’s versatility could prove crucial.

Daizen Maeda #9 of Team Japan celebrates after scoring their side’s fourth goal during the Men’s Group A match between France and Japan on day five of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at International Stadium Yokohama on July 28, 2021 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)

A couple of other players getting mentioned in terms of ins at Celtic Park are Daizen Maeda and Min kyu-Song. Maeda is a prolific striker from the J-League, who scored twenty-two goals from thirty-five appearances in J1 League 2021. The 24-year-old’s arrival could see Albian Ajeti depart after struggling to make an impact in Scotland’s top flight following his move from West Ham.

Photo courtesy AFC.

Min kyu-Song, 22, joined South Korean outfit Jeonbuk Hyundai from Pohang Steelers in July, but with a goal involvement for his new employers every 2.86 games, Celtic are ready to swoop for the left-winger, who is likely to cost around £1.5m. They will face competition from elsewhere for the six-time South Korea cap, but after their Celtic’s work in bringing Sung-yung Ki from the K-League and developing him as a player, there is hope kyu-Song will feel the feat can be repeated.

Joining Ajeti on the way out of Celtic Park could be recent signings Osaze Urhoghide and Liam Shaw. Both players, who joined from Sheffield Wednesday in the summer after their contracts expired, have only registered first-team appearances in the Challenge Cup, and it’s felt their progress will be best served elsewhere on a temporary basis.

Celtic’s Osaze Urhoghide and Preston North End’s Ched Evans battle for the ball during the pre-season friendly match at Celtic Park. Photo: Andrew Milligan

Urhoghide, 21, a defender who can play at right-back and centre half, is likely to have suitors south of the border after making twenty-one appearances for his former club in the Championship. He’s been named in matchday squads more regularly than Shaw but has so far failed to enter the fray as a substitute.

Twenty-year-old Shaw’s situation is slightly different as he plies his trade as a central midfielder. Still, many believe he could go on to become a centre half after excelling in the position for Sheffield Wednesday. Like Urhoghide, Shaw is likely to have interest from England, but at what level remains unknown, with League One arguably the best fit.

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