The trio of Japanese players who just signed by Ange Postecoglou will “open doors” for Celtic in potentially lucrative East Asian markets.
This is what financial expert Dr Dan Plumley said, speaking exclusively to Football initiate on offers from Reo Hatate, Yosuke Ideguchi and Daizen Maeda.
Celtic confirmed last Saturday (December 31) that the utility player, striker and midfielder have all signed teams from the J1 League.
Hatate and Ideguchi signed four-and-a-half-year contracts, while Maeda signed a loan-to-buy agreement.
Plumley predicted the trio would raise the profile of the Endless Hoops in Japan.
“It’s interesting that they just bought three Japanese players”, the University of Sheffield Hallam expert said Football initiateis Adam Williams.
âIt could benefit Celtic if we look at the bigger picture. This opens the doors to a wider fan base and interest in Celtic in Japan will increase as a result.
“As much as they will benefit Celtic on the pitch, there is another agenda for that sort of thing.
âThey come with a good track record and great comments about them too.
âEveryone has to pull in the same direction. You imagine that this was thought out well in advance before embarking on this path.
Postecoglou said Michael Nicholson was the “driving force” behind the deals, according to the Daily Record last Tuesday (December 28).
Nicholson was confirmed as CEO of Parkhead last month (December 23) after assuming his interim role following the shocking exit of Dominic McKay.
In other news, a medical expert fears “serious damage” to Celtic star David Turnbull after a “third year” muscle tear.