Takuya Ogiwara in Aberdeen FC transfer link as Barry Robson 'faces competition' for J League star

Aberdeen are interested in snapping up Takuya Ogiwara from Urawa Red Diamonds - but face some competition for his signature, according to reports.

The Dons have recently brought in the likes of Bojan Miovski from MTK Budapest in Hungary, Slobodan Rubezic from Serbian SuperLiga club FK Novi Pazar and Ester Sokler from NK Radomlje in Slovenia as they continue to scout the globe for transfer hits and they've now been linked with the J-League market in the hunt for a new left-back.

Now it is claimed in Japan that the the Pittodrie side face competition from St. Louis City in the MLS as well as Dinamo Zagreb in the Croatian first division for Ogiwara who has had loan spells at Albirex Niigata and Kyoto Sanga in his homeland. Ange Postecoglou enjoyed great success from shopping in that market during his time at Celtic bringing in the likes of Kyogo Furuhashi, Reo Hatate and Daizen Maeda. All three have become key members of the champions' squad and are firm fans' favourites. League rivals Hearts also have Yutaro Oda, signed from Kyogo's former club Vissel Kobe, and have found gems from Australia in the shape of Kye Rowles, Cammy Devlin and Nathaniel Atkinson with Aberdeen now looking to branch out into different markets.

It's been a tough campaign for Robson and Co with the boos ringing around the Granite City on Saturday evening after a 3-0 defeat to St Mirren. The result leaves the Reds toiling in ninth spot in the league with just 19 points on the board. They hold games in hand over all of their league rivals with the support hoping for a real upturn in fortunes.

They finished third in the Europa Conference League section but showed a competitive edge in all of their group games. That form hasn't quite translated to the