Celtic appear to be edging closer to the completion of a triple swoop in the January transfer window.

What's the talk?

That's according to a claim made by Hugh Keevins, with the journalist revealing on Clyde 1 Superscoreboard (via Vital Celtic) that all three of Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate and Yosuke Ideguchi have each had their work permit applications granted ahead of their expected moves to Celtic next month.

Speaking about the Japanese trio, Keevins said: "It is my understanding that the work permits have been done for three Japanese signings. So there [is] an immediate injection for Ange Postecoglou. Of course, they are then obliged to hit the ground running.

"I think the addition of more people inside the grounds would just help lift everyone. Celtic included. The result in Paisley was a body blow for Celtic. They are six points behind, so when the new signings come in for Ange Postecoglou, he will certainly believe that they have the capacity to overcome the deficit. Well, get games played [to] see if he's right."

Fans will be delighted

Considering the sheer number of injuries Ange Postecoglou's Celtic side have suffered so far this season, in addition to the Bhoys' lack of depth in a number of positions across their first-team squad, the news that the deals for all three of Maeda, Hatate and Ideguchi appear to be nearing completion is sure to have left the Bhoys fan base delighted.

Indeed, with all of David Turnbull, Jota, Albian Ajeti, Giorgos Giakoumakis, James Forrest, Karamoko Dembele, Christopher Jullien, Callum McGregor, Joe Hart, Greg Taylor and Anthony Ralston being unavailable for selection for the Hoops' 3-1 win over St. Johnstone in their last Premiership outing, as well as Kyogo Furuhashi being withdrawn just 15 minutes into the fixture due to a hamstring injury, Postecoglou's squad is very much down to its bare bones at present.

As such, it is clear for all to see just how much the addition of three fresh faces before the restart of Scottish football is needed for Celtic, and, following Keevins' latest update, it would seem very likely that Maeda, Hatate and Ideguchi will all be in contention for a place in Postecoglou's matchday squad when Hibernian make the trip to Parkhead on January 17.

In other news: Ange can finally axe "stupid" £15k-p/w Celtic flop by sealing "extraordinary" £8m gem