Celtic defender Yuki Kobayashi could leave the club on a loan deal.

The Japanese centre-back's future is unclear at the club following Ange Postecoglou's exit from the Scottish champions to Tottenham Hotspur in the summer.

The 23-year-old was signed in the January transfer window alongside fellow countryman Tomoki Iwata and was given an extended run in the team following an injury to Cameron Carter-Vickers in April this year.

However, a 3-0 reverse at Ibrox in the final Glasgow derby of the season saw the finger of blame pointed at the stopper as he was made a scapegoat for the defeat.

Kobayashi has struggled to make any impression and game time has been limited under new boss Brendan Rodgers after he got injured in the 6-4 pre-season defeat to Yokohama F. Marinos.

The defender appears to be out of the first-team picture and the signing of Polish defender Maik Nawrocki and the potential arrival of Swedish centre-back Gustaf Lagerbielke looks likely to thrust Kobayashi further down the pecking order in Glasgow's east end.

That largely explains why the Scottish champions are currently weighing up loan options for the player this summer.

It has also been revealed that Kobayashi has switched his agent to CAA Base.

Kobayashi's new agency also boasts the likes of James Maddison, Son, Kingsley Coman and Eberechi Eze on their books as well as Celtic team-mate Rocco Vata who recently made the same switch.

READ MORE: Maik Nawrocki's impressive Celtic competitive debut analysed

Meanwhile, Celtic's transfer interest in Gustaf Lagerbielke has been confirmed by Elfsborg chief Stefan Andreasson.

However, negotiations have yet to kick off over a potential deal for Lagerbielke who has netted two goals in 13 starts for the Swedish table-toppers.

The Hoops are keen on the 23-year-old to replace Carl Starfelt who is on his way out of Parkhead and is due to seal a move to Celta Vigo.

Andreasson told Fotbollkanalen: "We have had a dialogue in this case. There is an interest, yes.

"But we are not in a negotiation. Then the club must move from interest to acting powerfully and concretely. We are not there right now.

"The most important thing is the club and the situation we are in. We are always positive that players can go for the right price.

"Many players want to leave Sweden. So we have dialogues when there is a good time for it.

"We have a dialogue with the players and their representatives. We have that with multiple players now. Partly with Gustaf, partly with several others. These are pleasant problems."

Join Tony Haggerty and Ryan McGinlay as they discuss all the latest Celtic news in the video below.