Motherwell are set to become the latest SPFL club to go shopping in the Asian market as they've launched an ambitious bid to land Japan midfielder Riku Danzaki.
The Steelmen are looking to add to the growing Japanese contingent in the Scottish Premiership and boss Stevie Hammell has made his move to land Danzaki. The 22-year-old attacking midfielder is currently on loan to Australian A-League side Brisbane Roar from Consadole Sapporo.
Danzaki is now in his second loan spell with Roar and finished his first season as their top scorer with an impressive nine goals. The versatile attacker, who can also play upfront or wide, is a key player for Warren Moon’s side but has never hidden his desire to get a crack at European football. That has opened the door for Motherwell to make their move and beat off competition from several other mainland European clubs. Danzaki has also seen the success the likes of Kyogo Furuhashi, Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate have had at Celtic, while Hearts have also completed the signing of Yutaro Oda from Vissel Kobe this week.
The Steelmen are pushing to wrap up a deal and to start the process to get Dazaki a work permit and visa. Hammell is looking to strengthen his squad and to kickstart the Steelmen’s season again. He has been looking for more creativity at the top end of the park to take some of the goal burden off top scorer Kevin van Veen.
Motherwell have already let Louis Moult and Rolando Aarons return to their parent clubs, Burton Albion and Huddersfield, respectively, after recent injury-hit loan spells. Hammell is now looking to strengthen his squad further to push them further up the Premiership and away from danger.
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