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Scotsman
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
£1.7m bargain signs, Carter-Vickers stays, 23 y/o joins - Celtic's dream XI if the latest transfer rumours are true
The Scottish Premiership transfer window re-opened this week, and with it comes a flood of new rumours across the division - with champions Celtic no exception to the rule. Outlandish rumours of a potential return for ex-striker Odsonne Édouard have been mooted, while the ongoing interest in Motherwell wonderkid Lennon Miller is still taking the headlines. Cameron Carter-Vickers has been linked with a £20million move to Sunderland, though a report claims Celtic are 'calm and confident' they can hold onto him this summer. Nicolas Kuhn is another linked with a potential departure, though he is reportedly happy at Celtic Park and won't push for a move, though Greg Taylor's time in Glasgow looks set to come to end with his contract set to expire in the coming weeks. With so many rumours floating around, Celtic's squad could have a fresh look when the season gets underway on August 2. Here, The Scotsman take a look at what Celtic's dream starting XI could look if the latest rumours are true - though, that can never be guaranteed, as we know! 1 . GK: Kasper Schmeichel The big Danish goalkeeper agreed a new one-year contract extension next season, and looks set to keep the gloves ahead of next season. | SNS Group Photo: SNS Group Photo Sales 2 . RB: Alistair Johnston His penalty miss against Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup saw his season end in heart-breaking fashion, but he is one of the first names on Brendan Rodgers' team sheet when fit after his outstanding performances in the last campaign. | SNS Group Photo: SNS Group Photo Sales 3 . CB: Cameron Carter-Vickers Is a rumoured target for newly promoted EPL sides Sunderland and Leeds United, but reports claim Celtic are 'calm and confident' he'll stay in Glasgow for the coming season. | SNS Group Photo: SNS Group Photo Sales 4 . CB: Hayato Inamura The Japanese defender is said to be 'in talks' with Celtic over a transfer from J-League 1 outfit Albirex Niigata. Could he be the perfect partner for Cameron Carter-Vickers next year? | YouTube Photo Sales
The Star
04-06-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Cools gets perfect birthday present by signing for Japan J1 outfit
Going places: Malaysia's Dion Cools (left) will report to Cerezo Osaka after playing for Harimau Malaya in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 third-round qualifier against Vietnam at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on June 10. PETALING JAYA: A birthday to remember, Dion Cools is heading to Japan. On the day he turned 29, the Malaysian international marked a major milestone in his career by signing with J-League 1 side Cerezo Osaka, making him the first Malaysian to secure a contract in Japan's top-tier football league. Having spent the last two seasons with Thai giants Buriram United, Cools now embarks on a fresh challenge in one of Asia's most competitive football environments, an inspiring leap not just for himself, but for Malaysian football as a whole. 'I'm truly happy to have the opportunity to come to Japan and Osaka, and I'm very grateful for this chance,' said Cools in a statement issued by the club. 'I'm looking forward to meeting my new teammates, the staff, and all the fans and supporters as soon as possible. I will give my all to help the team win as many games as possible and achieve our goals. 'Thank you for your support.' Cools will report to Cerezo after completing national team duty in the upcoming AFC Asian Cup 2027 third-round qualifier against Vietnam at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on June 10. His arrival could not come at a better time for the Sakuras, who currently sit eighth in the J-League with 29 points, just five behind the top three. They've conceded 26 goals in 20 matches, and Cools' defensive solidity and attacking prowess down the right flank could offer the balance the team need to climb further up the table. Though several Malaysians have previously featured in Japan's J2 and J3 leagues, including Luqman Hakim Shamsudin (YSSC Yokohama), Muhammad Abu Khalil (FC Osaka), and Hadi Fayyadh Abdul Razak (Fagiano Okayama and Azul Claro Numazu), Cools is the first to break into the elite J1 division. His move will no doubt please national head coach Peter Cklamovski, who has long championed the idea that Japan provide the ideal proving ground for ambitious players, those ready to stretch their limits in pursuit of excellence. And Cools, it seems, is ready to do just that, raising the bar for Malaysian footballers and carving a trail into Japan's top flight that others may now dare to follow.
