Yosuke Ideguchi is on the brink of a move to Celtic as Gamba Osaka line up a replacement for their key man, according to reports in Japan.
Ideguchi has been a regular for Osaka and has racked up 200 appearances over two spells at the club.
But Sports Hochi expect his time in Japan to come to an end soon with the midfielder set to arrive in Glasgow in 2022.
They claim that the club are planning for life after the 25-year-old, "who will be transferred to Celtic" next month.
They add that Mitsuki Saito, who is currently on loan at Rubin Kazan, will see his ill-fated spell in Russia cut short by parent club Shonan Bellmare.
He will then be sent out to Osaka as they attempt to plug the gap left in the heart of their starting line-up.
A midfielder, Ideguchi has experience in European football with Leeds, Cultural Leonesa and Greuther Furth, and is set to test himself in Europe again.
He is one of a host of J-League players who could be making a move to the Scottish Premiership next month.
Reo Hatate and Daizen Maeda are both nearing moves to Glasgow's east end as Ange Postecoglo u revisits a trusted market.
