It seems as though there will be a mass exodus of fringe players from Celtic this January. Brendan Rodgers’ squad is bloated, and several men simply don’t have long-term futures at the club.
According to The Scottish Sun, Japanese defender Yuki Kobayashi is one of those. It is being reported that the 23-year-old is being chased by several J. League clubs amid a likely January departure.
There were high hopes for the central defender when he signed for Celtic from Vissel Kobe although, in a year at the club, he has conjured up just seven appearances in all competitions. To add to his woes, Kobayashi has in no way matched expectations in those games and he has not even played under new gaffer Rodgers.
A January departure seems best for all parties, and with Kobayashi having four and a half years left on his contract, one imagines Celtic could recoup some of the money that was shelled out on the former Japan under-21 internationalist a year ago.
Kobayashi is not the only player in his position who looks to be leaving the club this upcoming window. There appears to be no future in Glasgow for Gustaf Lagerbielke (Stephen McGowan), meanwhile, Nat Phillips’ loan doesn’t look as though it will be extended (The Athletic).
The manager has a plethora of options at the heart of the defence. It will do the club no harm to trim this number which in turn, will cut the wage bill and make way for new arrivals in other positions that need addressed.
