Shin Yamada

CELTIC could raid the J.League once again for £1.5million striker Shin Yamada.

SunSport understands the Kawasaki Frontale hitman has been watched as Brendan Rodgers looks to strengthen his attack




Yamada, 25, scored 19 league goals in the 2024 season and also helped the Japanese side to the Asian Champions League final last month.

His goal return has dipped this year - with just six in all competitions so far - but the stocky striker has still been tipped to make a move to Europe.

And it’s understood Celtic are among several overseas clubs looking closely at the Japanunder-23 cap.

The Hoops plundered the J.League for five signings during Ange Postecoglou’s reign - with Kyogo Furuhashi, Reo Hatate and Daizen Maeda massive hits.


Celtic are currently working on a deal for Albirex Niigata central defender Hayato Inamura.

He played and scored in his side’s 3-2 defeat to Avispa Fukuoka on Saturday.

But Yamada is also on their radar as they weigh up a move for the bustling penalty-box striker, who is strong in the air despite being under 6ft.

He has 32 goals in 118 games for Frontale since joining from Toin University in 2022.




Yamada was a J.League standout last year - finishing third in the scoring charts.

He hasn’t been able to follow that up this term, with just two league goals to date. He played 86 minutes of his side’s 2-1 defeat to Vissel Kobe on Saturday.


Yamada vowed to get over his struggles and bagged a brace in a recent Emperor’s Cup winover Fukushima.

He said: “Of course there’s pressure. I’m worried but I don’t want to waste time being weak because of that.


My goals have a very positive impact on the team and I want to keep scoring.”

Celtic boss Rodgers is keen to add another striker to support Daizen Maeda and Adam Idah ahead of the new season



Irish forward Johnny Kenny is attracting interest across Britain and will be the subject of loan bids.

Yamada has decent experience with Frontale and has played at a high level, domestically and in the Asian Champions League

But with just 18 months left on his deal, Celtic could snap him up for a relatively low seven-figure fee.

 

At 25, he is nearing his peak, so I would be surprised if we loaned him out.

 

fs that first goal was so lucky hahah missed from a few yards out and got lucky the header fell to him

 

Pretty happy we’ve gone back into the Japanese market again

 

Thought he actually looked quite decent overall

 

Aye I like the look of him


A year younger than when we signed Kyogo too

 

Sunsport seems to pick up stories when they're on the cusp of breaking.

Likely some legitimacy to this.

 

David Friel seems to be the one we leak stories to. Just went to check and it wasn't his story

 

Think he looks meh.

We need something different up front though...

 

Japanese Aguero

 

It’s interesting if we’re still looking to bring in a striker when we have Maeda, Idah and seemingly Osmand; It makes you wonder if there’s something in the works with Maeda or Idah.

 

A clumsy stocky battering ram type ....Morelos vibes .

We going full cheap mode this summer ?

 

Well that's what we usually do until we sell someone

 

Yeah that's a fair point .

 

Pretty confusing at the minute ....

 

Hes going to be a star ⭐

 

It could be we maybe view Osmund are more developmental than many of us thought, with the idea of easing him in as the season goes on, and this guy coming in to challenge Idah and Maeda at Striker, with Kenny going out on Loan/Sold.

I didn't think we'd spend big on a striker this window, we'll have Maeda as our first choice and go another season with Idah as second.

I think he looks good, what's best about these recent links is we're back in the Japanese market at least.

 

Maybe we are going to go two up front !