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Ben Banks

Ange Postecoglou identifies Celtic transfer hot spot as he targets players from underrated market

Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou says the quality on offer in Japan often goes unnoticed - making it a perfect place for his team to do some of their recruitment work.

The Australian arrived in Scotland last summer from J League club Yokahama Marinos and was largely unfancied as he faced the daunting task of rebuilding the team after its collapsed 10-in-a-row bid.

But he did just that, winning the Premiership in May, helped by the recruitment of four players from the land he was previously.

Despite suffering an injury that ruled him out for most of the second half of the season, Kyogo Furuhashi made himself a hero with 20 goals in 33 games, joined in January by fellow international forward Daizen Maeda.

Reo Hatate helped bolster the midfield options and there is still hope that Yosuke Ideguchi will come good after a stop-start first six months in Glasgow's east end.

It's been a successful hunting ground for the Glasgow giants and Postecoglou knows it's not a popular market.

He anticipates that changing but the former Brisbane Roar boss insists there's still more talent to be found now, as his Hoops team prepare for Champions League group stage football this autumn.

In a Japanese interview, he said: "Regarding my recruitment, there was no special strategy, I just wanted to sign a good player and I knew there were quality players in Japan.

READ MORE: Ange Postecoglou Celtic tenure could kickstart manager revolution as Hoops boss hailed Australian coaching trailblazer

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"In my four years as a coach in Japan, I've seen players with the right talent and attitude to achieve my ideal type of football.

"In general, people only look at things that are close to them. Europe and South America are considered to be football powerhouses and Asia is often seen as a downgrade.

"It's the same reason no one gave me a chance. Asia is seen as the other side of the world and there is a historical tendency to only look at Europe and South America because they are seen as the strong football continents.

"But if look at the Bundesliga, there have been some fantastic Japanese footballers there, so I do think other nations don't take as much notice as they perhaps should.

"But as Asia and North America get more attention, it will become even more attractive as a market."

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