We are now around a quarter of the way through the current season, and with the international break resulting in a pause in proceedings, the transfer rumour mill is already in full force.
The January transfer window is still two months away, but as we have seen from Celtic in recent seasons, the club has been eager to get business done early. Just last season Yuki Kobayashi, Tomoki Iwata and Alistair Johnston were all signed and announced before the window had even opened, before Oh was snapped up in the final week.
The season prior, Celtic secured the services of Daizen Maeda, Yosuke Ideguchi and Reo Hatate before the window opened, then added Matt O’Riley into the mix three weeks into the window.
The rumour mill has produced a few links so far, with more talents in the Asian market as well as a Real Madrid player being touted for a move to Glasgow. Here is a look into the names doing the rounds, and just how likely they are to materialising.
Jeong Ho-Yeon
Celtic have been linked with another potential acquisition from the K-League. The club has already acquired Oh Hyeon-gyu from Suwon Bluewings, as well as Yang Hyun-jun from Gangwon, and Kwon Hyeok-Kyu from K-League 2 side Busan IPark.
The 23-year-old midfielder Jeong Ho-Yeon could be the latest Asian talent to join Celtic, having been plying his trade for Gwangju FC. Korean outlet FOOTBALLiST has claimed that Celtic are monitoring the player, who is reportedly interested in a move to Europe.
The South Korean is yet to be capped for the senior team, but was a part of the Olympic side that won a gold medal at the most recent Asian games.
Andriy Lunin
According to reports, Real Madrid’s Ukrainian keeper Andriy Lunin could be the man Celtic are targetting to replace Joe Hart.
The club were keen to sign a replacement for the 36-year old in the summer but a move for a new stopper never materialised. Celtic are eyeing up a number of different goalkeepers, and with Hart out of contract next summer, signing a new number one either in January or in the pre-season would be a wise move from Brendan Rodgers.
The Ukrainian has been at the Bernabéu since 2018, signing as a 19-year-old. Now 24, the stopper is looking for an exit from Madrid after years of sitting on the bench. Usual number one Thibaut Courtois picked up an injury in the summer, an injury which many thought would have opened the door for Lunin.
Although Lunin started the first two games of the season, Real Madrid then captured the services of Chelsea stopper Kepa Arrizabalaga on a loan deal, with the Spaniard taking up the starting position and Lunin being relegated to the bench once again.
Game time has been limited, but the initial £7.3million Los Blancos paid for his services in the first place shows there is real potential for a top quality keeper there, and Celtic could offer the starting minutes that Lunin desires.
JAMES MCKENZIE // Follow James HERE
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