Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou has already made moves to strengthen ahead of the upcoming transfer window with the signings of Yuki Kobayashi and Alistair Johnston, with the 57-year-old seeing notable merit in bolstering his ranks in the winter market.

While January can be a notoriously difficult month to do business for most clubs, the title-winning coach has shown the benefits of utilising the mid-season window during his stint at Parkhead thus far, having made notable additions earlier this year.

One of those to have arrived mid-way through the 2021/22 campaign was Japan international Reo Hatate, with the diminutive playmaker having swiftly forced his way into the side to help maintain the Old Firm outfit’s surge towards the title.

A brilliant brace on his derby debut against bitter rivals Rangers set the tone for what has been a stunning calendar year for the £12k-per-week man since then, with the 25-year-old having scored six goals and laid on seven assists in 41 games for the Scottish champions to date.

That impact has seen him dubbed the “best signing” that Postecoglou has made in his tenure so far, as per pundit Frank McAvennie, having simply been a “beast” in the centre of the park for the Hoops in recent times, according to journalist Sacha Pisani.

One defining feature of the playmaker’s game is his incredible work ethic, having put in an “enormous shift” prior to the World Cup break, as per his manager (BBC Radio Scotland, 13/11/2022, 17:16), while he is also truly “intense” in his desire to get forward, according to McAvennie.

The Glasgow side could well look to replicate such a transfer masterclass by landing another hard-working and relentless midfield asset in the January window in the form of Aissa Laidouni, with the Tunisia international having been named as a potential target in recent days.

The 25-year-old – who currently plies his trade for his Hungarian outfit Ferencvaros – is set to cost in the region of €4m (£3.5m) if the Bhoys are to make a concrete approach over the coming weeks, albeit with that fee potentially something of a bargain such have been his displays in Qatar of late.

The 28-cap menace – who has just a matter of months left on his existing deal in Budapest – was a standout presence for his country during what was an encouraging group stage showing for the African nation as they picked up four points, having notably won against holders France.

That importance to his national side was evidenced by the fact that he simply “covers every blade of grass” – according to journalist Lorenz Kohler – having enjoyed a “tremendous tournament” in the words of journalist Sam Tighe.

The one-time Angers brute was particularly impressive in the final group game against Didier Deschamps’ men, after registering one assist and recording three key passes as a marker of his creative flair, while also making two interceptions and recording two clearances.

The French-born star also caught the eye for his pumped-up reaction to making a crunching challenge on Denmark’s Christian Eriksen in the opening group game, with that ferocious celebration drawing a notable smile from the Manchester United man.

Such a committed and eye-catching figure will likely quickly emerge as a cult hero at Celtic Park were he to sign, with supporters likely to take to Laidouni much like they have done with Hatate, with the latter man having swiftly won over the home crowd due to his all-action and energetic approach.