Celtic: 199-game star 'might now be allowed to leave' Parkhead | OneFootball

Celtic star Yosuke Ideguchi ‘might be allowed to leave’ Parkhead before the January transfer window slams shut, journalist Pete O’Rourke has told GiveMeSport.

The Bhoys are on course to win the Scottish Premiership title for a second season in succession, but boss Ange Postecoglou could look to freshen up his squad this month.

Celtic transfer news – Yosuke Ideguchi

According to the Scottish Daily Mail, via HITC, Ideguchi is set to depart Celtic and seal a return to Japan just 12 months on from his move to Glasgow.

The report suggests the central midfielder has been deemed surplus to requirements after Tomoki Iwata has joined from Yokohama F Marinos on an initial loan deal which includes a compulsory option to make the switch permanent.

Several J-League clubs are monitoring Ideguchi’s situation and mulling over whether to make a move to take him back to his homeland.

Celtic are in a strong negotiating position as the 26-year-old still has three-and-a-half years remaining on his contract.

But it seems Ideguchi is not the only star who could leave Parkhead in the coming weeks as O’Rourke recently told GiveMeSport that the Bhoys are ‘bracing themselves for interest’ in Josip Juranovic.

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What has Pete O’Rourke said about Ideguchi?

O’Rourke believes Iwata’s arrival at Celtic could play a significant role in Postecoglou’s plans for the remainder of the transfer window.

The journalist feels there is a possibility that a mid-season departure for Ideguchi could be sanctioned.

O’Rourke reckons the 15-cap Japan international’s exit is needed after Iwata has come through the door.

O’Rourke told GiveMeSport: “Now that Iwata has come in, Ideguchi – who came into Celtic last year – might be allowed to leave. That will free up a berth in midfield for Iwata.”

Should Celtic sell Ideguchi this month?

Although Ideguchi has made 199 appearances over the course of his senior club career, according to Transfermarkt, he has struggled to make himself one of the first names on the team-sheet at Celtic.

In fact, he has not been handed any game-time by Postecoglou this season and only been named on the bench three times.

That emphasises that a parting of ways could be best for all parties, while he also struggled to make an impact when he joined midway through last term.

Sofascore statistics show Ideguchi only averaged 0.3 tackles per Scottish Premiership outing, while his best match rating was 6.9, so his acquisition has not paid off as Postecoglou would have hoped.