Exclusive: Celtic target surprise raid on J-League with defender transfer

Currently playing for Albirex Niigata the 23-year-old primarily plays as a left-sided centre-back but can also provide cover at left full-back.Signed from Toyo University in 2021 six foot tall Inamura secured a J-League Cup runners-up medal last season, but currently finds himself locked in a relegation struggle in Niigata.Celtic are no strangers to the Japanese market, signing the likes of Daizen Maeda, Kyogo Furuhashi, Reo Hatate, Tomoki Iwata and Yuki Kobayashi in the past.The summer transfer window opens this morning with the Parkhead club keen to move quickly to secure more new players.Kieran Tierney’s return has been confirmed on a five year deal. Nordsjaelland’s Swedish international winger Benjamin Nygren is close to signing for £2million. Teenage Fulham striker Callum Osmand is also close to finalising a cross border move to Glasgow, while goalkeeper Ross Doohan has agreed a pre-contract move from Aberdeen as Scott Bain’s replacement. Read more:Ex-Celtic player Mjallby says Nygren will thrive in EuropeParkhead scouts have also tracked Red Star Belgrade’s teenage defender Veljko Milosavljevic and the club are in the market for another winger in anticipation of bids for Nicholas Kuhn later in the window. The German wide man, shortlisted for PFA Scotland player of the season, could be one of a number of players to attract interest this summer.Scotland defender Greg Taylor is close to moving overseas under freedom of contract while Leeds United and Sunderland have been credited with an interest in key central defender Cameron Carter-Vickers.Midfielder Hatate is also keen to test himself in a top five league, while last season’s top scorer Maeda has yet to agree to a new contract.