NafisaCeltic appear ready to secure Japanese central defender Hayato Inamura, with Anthony Joseph of Sky Sports now lending credibility to the prospect of the 23-year-old ball-playing defender joining Celtic shortly.
‘Sky Sports News understands discussions have progressed well today and the 23 year old is keen to join the Scottish champions. Inamura is a left footed centre back who can also play at left back,’ Anthony Joseph.
Anthony Joseph’s update follows yesterday’s news, which we initially reported on The Celtic Star, indicating that sources in Japan were suggesting Hayato Inamura was scheduled to undergo a medical prior to signing a contract with Celtic.
The Herald’s Stephen McGowan was the first to note Celtic’s interest in the player, while Japanese publication Sponichi Annex had also connected Celtic with the player, with the Japanese outlet going so far as to state a medical would soon follow and claiming ‘multiple sources’ had verified the deal’s advancement, as per our report yesterday.
This summer’s transfer window officially opened yesterday, but with a deal already finalized for Kieran Tierney to return to the club, and Benjamin Nygren’s transfer from FC Nordsjælland also said to be moving forward – to the extent that Celtic’s rivals for the playmaker’s signature, Anderlecht, had accepted Celtic was Nygren’s preference – then Celtic seem to be making a determined push to complete at least some of their transfer dealings in time for the start of pre-season.
A Significant Summer for Michael Nicholson – Leading the Charge in Celtic’s Transfer Activity:
Following last summer’s lengthy transfer negotiations for players like Adam Idah and Paulo Bernardo, despite both having been on loan at the club the previous season, all attention was on Celtic, and especially CEO Michael Nicholson.
The expectation was that lessons had been absorbed and Celtic would have a well-supported transfer plan in place this time, which could help avoid the overpaying for players we perhaps witnessed last summer, as we entered the final days of the transfer window seeking value, but ultimately finding the selling club in a stronger position than ourselves.
Initial indications are promising. However, as always with Celtic, you hold your breath in anticipation that these agreements can be finalized and Brendan Rodgers can have some fresh faces in place to ensure a solid pre-season and an opportunity to integrate new players ahead of a title defense and those upcoming Champions League qualifying matches.
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