Forgotten Celt set for return to his homeland after frustrating spell
Celtic have started their January sales early with Japanese champions Vissel Kobe agreeing a £870,000 deal to sell forgotten on-loan midfielder Yosuke Ideguchi, according to reports in his homeland.
The 27-year-old was at the centre of a battle between Vissel Kobe and his current loan club Avispa Fukuoka, who Ideguchi helped win the Japanese League Cup this season.
And Kobe have reportedly won the battle for him after agreeing the fee with Celtic to sign the player officially on January 15, when the J-league transfer window reopens.
The Japanese international midfielder returned to his homeland earlier this year after a frustrating spell in Glasgow.
He suffered an ankle break in one of his first games back in March, but recovered quickly and was widely praised for his performances in the J-league.
Kobe needed a replacement for Mitsuki Saito, who has suffered a long-term injury, in midfield and see Ideguchi as a longterm successor for captain and Japanese international Hotaru Yamaguchi, who is now 34.
Celtic will even make a tiny profit on the sale of the player, who cost them £850,000 when he signed in 2022 from Gamba Osaka.
But he started just a single game during his time at the club – in a Scottish Cup tie away at Alloa – and made only three substitute appearances in the league.
Meanwhile, Ispwich Town keeper Vaclav Hladky’s agent has revealed clubs have been in contact after Celtic were linked with a summer move for the outof-contract star.
The Czech shot-stopper has been a revelation this season in the English Championship with promoted Ipswich comfortably clear in the promotion places for a return to the Premier League for the first time since 2001/02.
But the 33-year-old is out of contract in the summer at Portman Road and could sign a pre-contract for a new club from the start of next month.
And, according to reports in his Czech homeland, Celtic have registered an interest in snapping up Hladky for next season.
He spent 18 months at St Mirren and claimed he turned down a move to Rangers to move to Salford City in 2020 instead before he was signed by Ipswich after just one season in English League Two.
And his agent, Martin Stepanovsky has confirmed clubs are interested in the keeper, who was called up for the Czech Republic for their last Euro 2024 matches.
He said: “We have received enquiries from clubs, which is understandable given Vaclav’s performances, the position of Ipswich Town in the league and the fact his contract is expiring in the summer.
“However, at the moment, the priority is to agree on an extension and help Ipswich win promotion to the Premier League.”
Hladky explained last year whey he turned down the chance to move to Rangers as he heaped praise on his time in Paisley.
He said: “When I was leaving St Mirren, I discussed a transfer with Rangers and we got down to personal terms.
“On the one hand, it was a difficult decision to join a club in the fourth division of English football compared with Rangers.
“But I wanted to prove myself in English football and that eventually earned me a move to Ipswich Town. “I am delighted I moved to Scottish football from Slovan Liberec. I didn’t hesitate when St Mirren contacted me.
“I transferred to Scotland. It’s not English, it’s a different language. I tried to communicate with my hands, my feet, but guys, when they speak, it’s not the English you hear on TV, where everyone speaks clearly, it’s a Scottish version that they speak to their friends. I was lost.
“My wife and I hired a teacher and tried to make progress, but when I transferred to England, it was like a balm to the ears!”