Celtic sign Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate and Yosuke Ideguchi as triple J-League transfer lands

Ange Postecoglou has brought another three players over from the J-League as his squad is given a huge New Year boost.

Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate and Yosuke Ideguchi have signed for Celtic in a Hogmanay triple transfer coup .

Yokohama F. Marinos striker Maeda will link up with former boss Ange Postecoglou in Glasgow's east end on an initial six month loan with a 'compulsory purchase clause' - meaning he is, in practice, a permanent signing from the get-go.

And he's joined by versatile midfielder Hatate, signed from Kawasaki Frontale, and Ideguchi of Gamba Osaka.

The monumental Hogmanay triple deal will go through in early January, going down as the Australian manager's first winter captures as he crucially lands another forward to lighten the load on Kyogo Furuhashi and two other young J-League stars who can play in a multitude of positions.

Maeda finished the J-League season on 23 goals, tied with Brazilian Leandro Damiao, and on Wednesday night a flurry of reports from the Far East suggested a deal was imminent.

Then followed more news from Japan that all three were set to arrive and that has been confirmed by the club.

A statement said: "It is hoped all players will be joining up with the Celtic squad across the next few days," and the trio could be available when Celtic resume their season after the winter break by taking on Hibs at Parkhead on January 17.

Ideguchi and Hatate join on four-and-a-half year deals, while Maeda's future permanent contract is described as "long-term".

Celtic remain six points behind Rangers in the Premiership title race when Scottish football reemerges from cold storage - but they scooped the first trophy of the season in the Premier Sports Cup Final against Hibs earlier this month.