Celtic set to land Mizuno

Celtic could complete the signing of Japanese midfielder Koki Mizuno before the end of the week.

The 22-year-old is a right-sided attacking player and would be expected, in time, to provide competition to his countryman Shunsuke Nakamura on the flank.

Mizuno arrived in Glasgow on Wednesday night and could meet his new team-mates on Thursday.

He is rated one of Japan's outstanding young talents and has already been capped at senior level.

Mizuno has played insufficient games to be granted a work permit in a straightforward manner, but a panel assigned to his case by the Department of Employment judged he should be treated as a special case.

However, Mizuno's J. League club side JEF United have refused to confirm or deny reports he is set to sign despite becoming a free agent at the end of this month.

A JEF United spokesperson refused to disclose whether Mizuno will join Celtic, instead insisting they still harbour hopes that he will choose to stay with the Japanese side.

"Mizuno's current contract with us will expire at the end of this month and he will be a free agent after that," said spokesperson Yoichi Risho. "We are not really in a position to comment further on this issue.

"We hope he will stay with us for next season but we also know that he has desires to play abroad."