Everyone knows Celtic need to strengthen their back line. Hopefully the weakness at the back will not get exposed tonight, but with Kris Ajer out of the European squad, the Celtic first team is threadbare for experience on such a massive night.
Unfortunately there is no chance of doing anything about that tonight but according J League expert, Alan Gibson, there are two signings the Hoops could make that would be great additions to the first team this season
Speaking to the Only As Good As Your Last Game podcast, Gibson said, “It depends on how influential or how much just say Ange Postecoglou has actually got in the signing of things I think.
“It’s possible, not necessarily the Japanese market but some Japanese players in Europe. There’s a guy called Itakura, who plays in Holland at the moment and is actually owned by Manchester City, which I believe there is a connection in the Celtic background too.
“He’s a great centre back and also a defensive midfield player. I think Ange knows him well because Yokohama F Marinos also have 19% stake held by the City Football group.
“So, Itakura has a good chance for me, I’d say, but I’m sure Ange has got his eye on people and he knows what he’s doing so we’ll see.
“There’s a there’s a guy called Daizen Maeda who’s playing for the Olympic team who actually played in Portugal for a short time before he came back to play for Yokohama F Marinos
“He is a possibility. I think Postecoglou will be looking wherever he’s been. He is very experienced. He’s got the contacts.”
Itakura has been linked by the media in the past and Ange Postecoglou has been tipped to dip his toe into the Japanese market again before the window closes and it does seem that with Celtic’s links to The City Group, signings could be coming thick and fast in the next few weeks.