Celtic are eying up another raid of the Japanese market, according to a report.
Ange Postecoglou has Ryotaro Ito on the club’s transfer radar.
The Daily Record claims the Hoops are keen to bring younger options to his squad.
And it's said that Ito fits the bill, as the Scottish champions aim to strengthen in the middle to front areas of the team.
The 25-year-old has played a key role in helping Albirex Niigata return to the J-League.
The midfielder was named as one of the top players in the J2 League last year.
It previously played for Urawa Red Diamonds, who were interested in signing Giorgos Giakoumakis, where he won the J League Cup and the AFC Champions League.
Postecoglou’s scouting team are looking at a number of Japanese players again following his strong track record in his two years in charge at Celtic.
Following his time spent with Yokohama F. Marinos, the Australian has found the J League market to be somewhat of a goldmine.
He's brought in Kyogo, Reo Hatate, Daizen Maeda and more recently Tomoki Iwata and Yuki Kobayashi. The former names on the list have played an integral part in the club's success under Postecoglou and have both been named in the running for this year's PFA Player of the Year.
Oh Hyeon-gyu has also arrived from the Asian market, signed from South Korea in January.
The Hoops have also been linked with Colombian winger Diego Valoyes at Argentine club Talleres.
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