Ange targeting more new Bhoys
ANGE POSTECOGLOU insists Celtic remain on alert for further January signings after securing their three new Japanese additions at the start of the window.
The Parkhead boss was delighted to land Daizen Maeda, Yosuke Ideguchi and Reo Hatate in time to integrate them in his squad, but will continue to assess more potential targets.
Celtic are also exploring permanent deals for loanees Cameron Carter-Vickers and
Jota with Tottenham and Benfica respectively.
Postecoglou is also mindful of potential outgoings but it was reported last night that a loan-to-buy offer from Udinese for centre-back Stephen Welsh had been dismissed by the Parkhead club.
With more than three weeks of the window still to run, the Celtic manager made it clear he is ready to move if the right incoming deals are available to strengthen for the second half of the Premiership title race.
‘I don’t think it will be too busy but we have to stay agile during this period,’ he said. ‘We are looking at the squad all the time and through the whole January window. We will make sure what we need, if it’s available, we will bring in.
‘With the existing squad we’ll make sure we’re continuing to
develop our football. I don’t expect it to be too hectic but we will stay alert. We will make sure if the right thing comes along, in terms of incomings and outgoings, we will be able to move.’ After the stand-out success of Kyogo Furuhashi, Postecoglou views his latest trio of J-League additions as key elements of his long-term plans at Parkhead. Forward Maeda and adaptable midfielder Hatate are both 24, with Ideguchi a year older. ‘I didn’t want this January window to be about trying to fill gaps,’ stressed Postecoglou. ‘We’re still building a team, and it wasn’t about trying to react to the way this season has gone so far. It was always part of the planning. ‘I’m really pleased to get them in because I think they will be an important part of what we’ll build here. ‘From our perspective, they are here for the long-term, they are here to be part of the building of this team that we hope can be successful for a number of years ahead.’ Celtic’s Japanese contingent are waiting to learn whether they will be called up for forthcoming World Cup qualifiers — which clash with the Old Firm game on February 2 — after local reports suggested Covid travel rules could be relaxed to allow them to play in their homeland. While that situation causes some short-term concern, Postecoglou believes their additions can help reduce the number of injuries Celtic encounter after the winter break.
Furuhashi, Jota, James Forrest, Giorgos Giakoumakis and David Turnbull were all sidelined going into the winter break. ‘They’re all in different stages of recovery, but all progressing really well,’ Postecoglou told Celtic TV when asked about injuries. ‘Part of the reason of wanting to get the three lads in early from Japan was because the one thing that was fairly evident was that we didn’t have the depth we needed, and the quality to be able to rotate our team. ‘I think we suffered because of that. Quite a lot of the players were carrying too much of a load because we just didn’t have alternatives. ‘We expect the majority to be up and running and available when the season re-starts (against Hibs on January 17). Hopefully we’ll have the depth now to cope with what is still going to be a busy period for us.’ French centre-back Christopher Jullien has been out for a year with a knee injury, but Postecoglou hopes to arrange a game for him as he edges closer to a first-team comeback. ‘Chris has worked awfully hard,’ said the Celtic boss. ‘He’s training well and over the next couple of weeks we’ll get him involved in playing some football and see where he’s at.’ Meanwhile, Motherwell have completed the loan signing of Celtic midfielder Liam Shaw. The 20-year-old moved to Glasgow from Sheffield Wednesday in the summer but has played just twice, his first and only start so far coming in a 3-2 victory against Real Betis in Celtic’s final Europa League game.