As the January transfer window approaches, Blackburn Rovers face an even greater danger from Scottish Premiership heavyweights Celtic.

According to TEAMtalk, Japanese playmaker Ryoya Morishita is still on the Hoops’ radar ahead of the winter window, as Martin O’Neill seeks to improve his team’s prospects of winning the title for the sixth consecutive season.

Blackburn are now managed by Tony Mowbray, a former Celtic defender and manager who returned to Ewood Park in the summer when Michael O’Neill’s interim term ended.

Despite being highly predicted for a second relegation to the League Rovers have been one of the Championship’s early season surprises during the last decade.

After 11 games, the East Lancashire side is 10th in the table, having won four of them and scoring 17 goals.

Dapo Afolayan and Andri Gudjohnsen have dominated the headlines at Blackburn this season, but Morishita has continued to perform well.

Celtic continue to investigate Blackburn Rovers’ Ryoya Morishita ahead of the January transfer window.

Rovers had a rough campaign last time out, with Michael O’Neill’s successful temporary term following Valerien Ismael’s dismissal in January.

The Frenchman was responsible for bringing Morishita to Ewood Park, with Legia Warsaw reportedly paying around €2 million for the playmaker’s services.

Following four goals and nine assists in 37 Championship games last season, it was reported shortly after the transfer window closed that Celtic had made a bid for the three-time Japanese international, with Blackburn also discussing a loan move for Reo Hatate, who has since moved to bitter rivals Burnley.

Morishita has scored and assisted twice in 11 games this season, and it has now been claimed that he is on a four-man shortlist for the Bhoys ahead of the reopening of the transfer window, when he will have approximately 18 months left on his three-year contract, though Rovers have the option to extend the deal until 2029.

In the forthcoming transfer window, Blackburn Rovers could lose two players to Celtic.

It would be a significant blow for Blackburn to lose a player with Morishita’s creative effect, especially given that funding hasn’t been flowing smoothly at Ewood Park in terms of locating appropriate replacements.

However, it has been widely reported that Celtic are still monitoring the condition of Rovers’ Hungarian goalkeeper, Balazs Toth.

According to reports, the 29-year-old has continued to refuse contract extensions offered by his current employers, which might allow Celtic to close a move for far less than £4 million, with Toth’s contract in Lancashire expiring next June.

Blackburn Rovers are facing current Ryoya Morishita blow amid exit talk

While all of Mowbray’s attacking alternatives have performed admirably this season, new leave rumours surrounding Morishita aren’t the only setback the experienced manager is facing.

The Japanese is unlikely to play against Wrexham at home on Saturday afternoon, but the reason for his absence has yet to be confirmed.

Three points against the Red Dragons would be ideal for Blackburn, who squandered a two-goal lead at West Bromwich Albion the previous game.