Exclusive: Birmingham City eyeing up last-minute Celtic transfer agreement | OneFootball

The Blues are considering a late move for Celtic defender Hayato Inamura, FLW understands.

Birmingham City are considering a late move for Celtic’s Hayato Inamura, Football League World can exclusively reveal.

The Blues look set for a busy final few hours of the summer transfer window.

Football League World exclusively revealed that Sunderland winger Patrick Roberts is wanted on a loan deal, with Sky Sports News now confirming that the 28-year-old is set to sign at St Andrew's on loan for the season.

Meanwhile, FLW also has exclusively revealed that Tyler Roberts is heading for Mansfield Town, with the forward having undergone a medical ahead of joining the Stags.

Birmingham City exploring last-minute loan deal for Celtic defender Hayato Inamura

Blues may still have some other transfer business to conclude ahead of the 7pm deadline this evening too.

Football League World has been exclusively informed that Birmingham are mulling over a potential last-minute swoop for Celtic defender, Hayato Inamura.

The 23-year-old has been made available for loan by Brendan Rodgers after the Hoops signed him from J.League side Albirex Niigata earlier this summer.

Brum chief Chris Davies needs cover on the left-hand side of his defence - and the rookie fits that bill.

Rodgers confirmed that the youngster was signed as ‘an investment’ when the Glasgow giants brought him in earlier this summer.

Birmingham’s recruitment chiefs are working hard to find a solution to the problem.

Reports from France suggest another name on the list is Montpellier’s Becir Omeragic.

The Swiss international has three years left to run on a long-term contract in the south of France.

Inamura could provide Birmingham City with a solid piece of cover in defence

A deal for Inamura may not get Birmingham supporters as excited as some of the signings they've been able to make this summer, but it could prove to be a smart and solid one.

Despite being 23, the Tokyo-born defender hasn't played much senior football in his career so far, having made 36 appearances in all competitions for Albirex Niigata prior to joining Celtic.

Therefore, he will surely be desperate to really kickstart his senior career ASAP, and he could find a meaningful role as an important piece of squad depth and rotation in Davies' side.

Inamura is a left-sided centre-back by trade, and that's where he spent the lion's share of his time in Japanese football operating from.

However, his only competitive appearance for Celtic to date, a 3-0 win over Livingston on 23 August, the left-footer made the starting XI at the left-back position, playing well in that role and helping contribute towards a clean sheet that afternoon at Celtic Park.

Therefore, with defenders such as Krystian Bielik, Dion Sanderson and Emmanuel Longelo all departing the club this summer, he could instantly find a place with Blues as being a really important piece of backup both in the middle of defence, and on the left flank.

Injuries and suspensions are always just around the corner, and that's all it can take to derail a campaign if there isn't enough strength in depth present in a squad, and so Inamura can play an important role in this regard at St Andrew's, should a deal be done.

Alternatively, he does present as being a bit of an enigma and certainly has an unknown quantity surrounding him, and so there's every chance he could arrive and perhaps surprise a few people with his quality and ability to play a starting role for Blues this season.