In Shunsuke Nakamura’s eyes, Koki Mizuno has already passed a crucial test of desire to become a top-class footballer just by waving goodbye to Japan. Now the Celtic talisman is convinced that his compatriot will add some vital Scottish hunger to his make up as he bids to become the new rising son in the east end of Glasgow.

Nakamura believes that Japan possesses some of the most talented youngsters in the world but has told The Timesthat not enough of his countrymen make the move to Europe because they are in a comfort zone in the J-League, where they are well-paid and guaranteed first-team football.

Mizuno arrived in Glasgow on Wednesday and was shown around Celtic Park yesterday and the training complex at Lennoxtown before taking a medical. The 22-year-old midfield player, who plays for JEF United, is eager to play alongside Nakamura and could sign a precontract agreement before flying back to Tokyo tomorrow.

Nakamura, now 29, did not leave home until he was 24, when he moved from Yokoham F Marinos to Reggina in Italy. He regrets not leaving earlier and says that clubs such as Celtic offer a huge learning curve that is not available in the J-League. “For our players, it is better to leave Japan and come to Europe. We have some skilful players. In the J-League, the young players are in the first team every week at 20 or 21 and they get decent money. They can become too satisfied with what they have already. Players in Scotland at the same age have to fight to get into the first-team. Here, there are so many players trying to get into the starting lineup.

“I think all Japanese players should do the same as I have, maybe at a younger age. I am sure it will be good for them. I am sure clubs here would be interested in them.”

Mizuno was a star of the Japan side that performed so well at the Under-20 World Cup in 2005. He scored in those finals and has broken into the the full national team over the past year, making six appearances. His ambition to join Nakamura at Celtic could be finalised by tomorrow, if a deal is agreed for personal terms, as he is a free agent. However, Mizuno will not be available to play for Celtic until next month, as his contract with JEF does not run out until January 31.

Nakamura, who joined Celtic in 2005 from Reggina and was voted Scotland’s Player of the Year in 2007, should be just coming back to fitness then, too, after a four-month absence with a knee problem.

He told Japanese newspapers yesterday that Mizuno has the drive to make it in Europe, and has offered his support to the youngster should he make the move. “He has shown good courage for doing this,” Nakamura told Nikkan Sports. “I asked Hidetoshi Nakata [who played in Italy and England] about various things [when I started in Europe] and I would like to support Koki not only in football but in various aspects.” Life on his own in Italy was hard for Nakamura but he improved in Serie A as a player. He spent three seasons there before joining Celtic in 2005. “After we [Japan] lost to France [in a friendly in 2001], I was convinced that I would become a better player if I could train with players like them. That’s why I came to Europe,” he said.

“Playing abroad does have some disadvantages. You have some problems with your schedule and long travel. If you don’t make it as a regular with the first team at your club, you do not get called up to the national team. But if you don’t have players [to challenge in Europe], you wouldn’t see the rise in Japanese football standards.”

Mizuno is now set to be granted a work permit and is expected to finalise his move after undergoing a medical. There will be no transfer fee as he is a free agent, but it is still unclear if Celtic will have to pay compensation to JEF under Fifa rules covering players who have been developed by a club and move on before they are 23. Even if compensation is due, it will be a fraction of his estimated market value.

Celtic could bring in some revenue with the departure of Bobo Balde, the centre-back, to Bolton Wanderers, with talks still on-going. They could also get another high-earner off their books if Galatasaray follow up their interest in Thomas Gravesen, currently on loan at Everton.

The latest names linked with the club are two centre-backs, Josip Simunic, Hertha Berlin’s £3.5 million-rated Croatian, and Michael Turner, of Hull City, who carries a price tag of £2 million, but Celtic have dropped their interest in Coelho, the Brazilian defender, who has been training with them this week.