Tomoki Iwata could be on his way out of Celtic, with Birmingham City showing serious interest in a loan move for the Japanese midfielder. [RecordSport] The potential move is being driven by Birmingham’s new head coach, Chris Davies, who has strong ties to Celtic and our manager, Brendan Rodgers.

Davies, who previously served as Rodgers’ assistant at both Celtic and Leicester City, is reportedly looking to call in a favour with his former boss to bring Iwata to Birmingham. Despite being a player Rodgers used last season, Iwata has not made a single squad under the Irishman this campaign, suggesting his future at the club may be in doubt.

The 26-year-old joined Celtic from Yokohama F. Marinos in January 2023, arriving with high expectations after being named the J-League’s MVP in 2022. Although he impressed in several of his appearances last season, featuring in 18 games, his opportunities have drastically diminished under Rodgers this term. Now Bernardo is signed up and Engels is on the way Tomoki will be pushed further out of the picture. That’s before we take into account Celtic would have liked to bring in two midfielders after Matt O’Riley left.

Birmingham City, who are looking to rebuild after their relegation to League One, see Iwata as someone who can help them get back to the Championship. The Japanese international’s defensive abilities and experience make him an ideal target for the Blues.

For Davies, this move would not only strengthen his squad but also demonstrate his ability to leverage connections made during his time at top clubs. Whether the deal gets over the line will depend on Iwata’s willingness to leave on loan.

As the transfer window edges closer to shutting, Birmingham fans will be eagerly watching to see if this connection can bring Iwata to St. Andrew’s and help bolster their push for promotion.