CELTIC misfit Yuki Kobayashi has seen a proposed loan move to Finnish club HJK Helsinki fall through.
The Japanese defender flew to the Finnish capital for talks, but no business was concluded and the left-sided centre-back returned to the champions, according to a media report.
However, the deal is NOT completely dead and there is a chance the switch could be revived with the Finnish transfer window open until April 30 with their league season running until the end of the year.
Kobayashi signed a five-year contract at the Hoops 13 months ago after leaving J-League outfit Vissel Kobe as a free agent.
FINAL APPEARANCE…Yuki Kobayashi attempts to block a header from Hibs striker Kevin Nisbet in Celtic’s 4-2 loss at Easter Road on May 24 last year. Scott Bain sits this one out.
It’s clear the 23-year-old back-four operator is not in Brendan Rodgers’ plans and hasn’t figured at all since the Northern Irishman replaced Ange Postecoglou in June.
It looked as though he was on his way to the MLS with two clubs showing an interest, as CQN reported in January.
Real Salt Lake and FC Dallas were both linked with temporary deals for Kobayashi, but once again any potential transfer failed to materialise. Similarly, a return to Japan and a shift to Harry Kewell’s Yokohama F Marinos also didn’t get the go-ahead.
The central defender made five appearances under Postecoglou, but disappeared from the first-team picture after the 4-2 loss to Hibs at Easter Road in May which came shortly after a dismal display in a 3-0 defeat at Ibrox.
Both reverses occurred after the title had been secured and there has been no-show from the player this time around.
