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It’s been a quiet start to the January moving window for Brendan Rodgers, and Celtic enthusiasts are desperate for some new faces to arrive.
The Celtic boss has been quick this season to communicate the need for quality cargo to come to east Glaspassw as they look to get a handle on the Scottish Premiership’s name, having gone into the winter break eight things away from Rangers. Philippe Clement is expected to bring up Fabio Silva this month and Rodgers will be looking to lure new faces to Celtic Park and the race for the name is expected to go all the way with their rivals two games down.
However, it will also be mandatory for some of the fringe stars, and Rodgers admitted the team was too big this season. This has cast doubt on the long-term of several forgotten men, as the midpoint of the January sales approaches.
But what is the latest addition to Celtic Park?Record Sport takes a look.
Serie A side Lecce are reportedly “concerned” they will struggle to meet Celtic’s financial demands for defender Gustaf Lagerbielke. The 23-year-old has barely featured since September but did net the winner against Feyenoord off the bench to end the side’s 10-year wait for a home Champions League win. However, he looks to be well down the Parkhead pecking order after his £3million summer arrival from Elfsborg.
The Sweden international could earn salvation in Italy on loan. But according to Corriere dello Sport, there are concerns about reaching an agreement with the Scottish Premiership leaders.
Brendan Rodgers was expected to clear the draw at Celtic, and Yosuke Ideguchi followed Nat Phillips through the exit door. He joined J League champion Vissel Kobe, club Parkhead confirmed. The 27-year-old is on loan at Avispa Fukuoka, who were also keen to sign him, but foreigner Ideguchi has reached an agreement with Kyoto’s former club and a recent report indicates that the payment would be around £870,000.
Gwangju FC star Jung Ho-Yeon appears to have put the brakes on talks about a move to Celtic, as he talks about the upcoming K-League crusade with his current team. The midfielder and his boss Lee Jung-Hyo have said in the past that he was close to reaching an agreement to move to Europe; however, Jung seems to have taken an abrupt turn in an interview with JNDN.
When asked about his hopes for next season, he said: “I probably wouldn’t repeat the same mistakes this season thinking about the games we just won and ended up drawing or losing. I think the expectations of the players, the coaches and the fans will be better than last year. Gwangju is no longer a weak team, opposing teams will prepare better. Our goal is a ranking higher than 3rd place. If we do better and integrate into the team than we did this year, we can get better results. “
Reo Hatate has lifted the lid on his Asian Cup hopes, admitting he hopes to use the tournament to “enhance his reputation” in the game. The midfielder suffered an injury-marred season after suffering a hamstring injury in the Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid but returned in the win over St Mirren before flying with the Japan national team.
Speaking to the media in Japan ahead of the tournament, he said: “The temperament in the team is improving and I think there will be a lot of tension before the match, but I need to enjoy the moments that I enjoy. . . I need to contribute as much as possible through my play to the championship we are looking for. I need to play, so I need to improve my reputation while playing my way.
“As a personal challenge, I want to achieve numerical results. I think my style of play requires me to ‘carry the water’, so I want to play between the defensive line and the players in front of me in that area, and achieve results,”