Nakamura wanted in La Liga

Celtic and Japan playmaker Shunsuke Nakamura is wanted by Spanish outfit Atletico Madrid. And they are prepared to bid around £3 million for the player.

Atletico Madrid who are currently playing catch up in La Liga look to have identified the 27-year-old as a key player to rebuilding their team.

It might prove good business for Celtic and their manager Gordon Strachan who paid Regina £2.7 million for the Japanese playmaker’s services last summer. Gordon Strachan believes Nakamura has been Celtic most effective and entertaining player this season.

Nakamura should figure prominently for Japan at the World Cup in Germany and he has never made a secret of his desire to play in Spain.

Ideally, Strachan would prefer to hold on to his most creative player but his cause hasn’t been helped by the inability of Nakamura’s wife to settle in Scotland.

She returned to Japan with their children earlier this year and it’s understood she would prefer to relocate to sunnier climes.

Atletico Madrid are attempting to arrange a pre-season friendly with Yokahama Marinos, and have told the Japanese club of their intention to sign Nakamura before then.