Japanese club Yokohoma F Marinos are preparing to launch a bid for Celtic star Shunsuke Nakamura after the midfielder reiterated his desire to return to Japan.

Nakamura revealed his desire to return to his homeland earlier in the season, and the J-League side are believed to have outlined an offer to Celtic after gaining the necessary funding for the move.

Despite Nakamura’s intentions, Celtic boss Gordon Strachan has claimed that the star is not on his way out of the club after holding talks with the winger.

Strachan told press: "Nobody has mentioned anything to me and unless anyone tells me anything different to my face then I will refer you to Friday's statement.

I had a long conversation with Naka on Thursday and he never said a thing about that.”

Nakamura could return to Japan as early as January, although a summer transfer move would be more likely, with the Japanese star most likely wanting to finish the season should he leave.

"A move in January might be possible, I leave things like that to my agent," said Nakamura.

"If I was Scottish, I'd love to play at Celtic forever, but I'm Japanese and I also have a family and kids.

"I've also had to think about the national team as well and I'm finding it quite hard travelling back and forward all the time."

Nakamura joined Celtic from Italian Serie A club Reggina in August 2005 and made an immediate impact at Celtic Park. His consistent top displays earned him the Scottish Players’ Player of the Year in 2007.

The Celtic midfielder also ruled out any potential move to other J-League clubs, expressing his desire to only play for F. Marinos, the club where he began his professional career.

You can watch Shunsuke Nakamura live online in his next game for Celtic against Hearts at the Live Sports Network, the only place to watch football online.