Yosuke Ideguchi could leave Celtic in January with interest coming from the J-League.
Ange Postecoglou swooped for the midfielder 12 months ago as part of a triple deal that also included Reo Hatate and Daizen Maeda. The latter duo have both hit the ground running in Glasgow and have established themselves as key members of the Hoops top team, but the same can't be said for the midfield man who has endured an injury-plagued year at the club.
The Scottish Sun reports several clubs in Japan are keeping tabs on his situation and could make a move to end his time in Scotland when the January transfer window opens. He finds himself well down the pecking order at the Scottish champions with the likes of skipper Callum McGregor, Hatate, Matt O'Riley, Aaron Mooy, David Turnbull and Oliver Abildgaard all ahead of him.
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The 26-year-old - who has been hit by ankle and leg injures - has yet to taste a single minute of top team competitive action this season and is now expected to weigh up his future with the winter wheeling and dealing beginning in a couple of weeks.
It's claimed his old club Gamba Osaka would likely be keen to offer him a third stint at the club but Nagoya Grampus could also be interested to do a deal.
His potential departure comes with Celtic already snapping up two new defensive recruits in the shape of Alistair Johnston and Yuki Kobayashi. The duo have both penned long-term deals at Parkhead.
One other name linked with a switch is Tunisia World Cup star Aissa Laidouni, who would set Postecoglou back a reported £3.5million to bring him on board from Ferencvaros.
Celtic restart their bid to retain their Premiership crown they won from Rangers last season when they travel to Aberdeen next weekend. They then face Livingston, St Johnstone and Hibs before an Old Firm showdown with new Ibrox boss Michael Beale.
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