Brendan Rodgers focusing Celtic transfer hunt on another striker as Odsonne Edouard links addressed with Yamada deal done
Brendan Rodgers has confirmed Shin Yamada is on the way to Celtic – but he's still in the market for another striker.
The Japan cap is set to arrive in Scotland in the next 24 hours for a medical head of his £1.3m move from Kawasaki Frontale.
Rodgers will give Yamada a chance to stake a claim for the first team but he's determined to add some serious firepower in the coming weeks.
The Hoops boss – who last night watched his side see off Sporting Lisbon 2-0 in Portugal – said: 'He'll have a medical over the next couple of days and we'll have a look at him.
'We've lost a lot of goals so we need to replace that. Hopefully this can be one of a number of players we can bring in that aspect.
'He's got intensity and workrate. It's something the scouts have seen.
'In terms of the club, we will bring in players to develop and players for now. Even though he's a bit older, he's probably one of those that can give us that intensity and pressure.
'I need to look and see him when he comes in and hopefully he can do well. The idea was to bring him in and assess him.
'He's a strong boy – but we'd want to add to our front line also.'
Former Hoops ace Odsonne Edouard has been touted for a possible return with Crystal Palace set to let him go.
But Rodgers said: 'I'm not worried so much about a big name. It's about the collective of the team.
'Big names don't always give you want you need. This team needs hunger, goals and work rate and intensity.
'Big names don't always give you that. It's about big players.
'I just want players who are hungry to learn but also ready now. There are lots of players linked with us.
'Odsonne hasn't been on my radar, to be fair. I obviously know him but it's about a player who will fit into the structure of the team.'
Rodgers admitted some of his fringe men are set to go with Luis Palma expected to move while Norwich City are chasing Yang Hyun-jun and Kwon Hyeuk-kyu has also been told he can leave.
He said: 'Luis will probably go out on loan. There's been a little bit of interest in Yang but he's been a good squad player for us.
'Kwon is in a difficult position with the competition there so he's obviously looking for a club.'
Rodgers was thrilled with Celtic's display against Portuguese big guns Sporting in the Estadio Algarve.
Roe Hatate and Luke McCowan struck in the second half to secure an impressive victory in the scorching heat.
Rodgers rolled out a strong starting line-up featuring Kasper Schmeichel, Kieran Tierney and Diazen Maeda.
The manager said: 'It was excellent. It was always going to be a very good test against a team with very good players who play their system very well.
'I thought our pressing was good and we had to be brave. We did that and played well through the thirds.
'We could have finished off a few more moves but we looked very good for this stage of preseason.
'It's about consistently improving.'
Rodgers was delighted with the display but Celts could have been even more comfortable after hitman Adam Idah missed a couple of first half chances.
The Hoops boss warned: 'He needs to come alive. You can't be caught thinking at this level.
'You have to anticipate and move and then have authority in the box. I know he can score goals and it's also the time of pre-season.'
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