According to Japanese news agency Kyodo, as translated and shared by the Glasgow Times, Celtic are also set to sign Gamba Osaka midfielder Yosuke Ideguchi alongside known targets Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate.

The Lowdown: Celtic eye Maeda and Hatate moves...

Ange Postecoglou, coming after the summer signing of Japan international Kyogo Furuhashi, has been heavily tipped to add more talent from the Asian continent to his Hoops roster.

The former Australia national team manager knows these players well with Celtic's boss having also apparently set his sights on both Maeda and Hatate over these last few months.

Maeda, a striker for Ange's ex-club Yokohama F Marinos, has been on their radar with the 24-year-old bagging an incredible 23 goals and five assists in 36 J-League starts over 2021 (Transfermarkt).

Hatate, meanwhile, a versatile left-back for Kawasaki Frontale, has also been at the centre of reports that his move to Parkhead is also a matter of time.

The Latest: Celtic also set to sign Ideguchi...

As per Kyodo, shared and translated by The Glasgow Times, Celtic are now also set 'to win' Ideguchi alongside the heavily linked duo.

The 25-year-old, a former Leeds United midfield player, comes as part of a stunning Japanese triple swoop with the transfers apparently on the verge of completion.

The Verdict: Right man?

Ideguchi's inclusion in this raid should raise some eyebrows, not least because Celtic's fresh interest has attracted some raised eyebrows from experts on Twitter.

Respected journalist Dan Orlowitz of The Japan Times, for instance, at first glance thought Ange's interest in the ex-Whites man was 'kind of insane' - citing the fact he 'threw his international career away' during his spell at Elland Road (Twitter).

However, looking at the positives, other Asian football experts have actually praised Ideguchi for turning his form around in recent seasons.

Speaking to HITC, Alan Gibson, the editor of JSoccer magazine, explained how the midfield ace is 'prepared to be hard' and possesses a 'touch of malice' - perhaps leaving little wonder why Ange wants him in Glasgow.

Celtic's boss is certainly familiar with Ideguchi actually haunting Ange during his time as the Socceroos head coach.

Ending Japan's once seven-game run without a win against Australia in 2017, Ideguchi grabbed a goal against Ange's side to help secure his country a place in the 2018 World Cup with a 2-0 triumph (Taipei Times).

That result briefly came as a 'major blow' to the Aussies in their quest for Russian qualification, though they eventually made it with a 3-1 win over Honduras.

Clearly, Ideguchi's reportedly imminent arrival comes as a mixed bag but Celtic supporters will be hoping Ange can get the very best out of him.

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