Du Wei on his way?

The chances of Shanghai Shenhua FC's Du Wei moving to Celtic FC took a big boost today when the Scottish club's established defender Bobo Balde went AWOL by jetting off to France.

The Guinean international met officials with Olympique Marseilles FC -- 1993 European Champions -- without telling his club and now looks set to be on his way out, leaving a hole in Celtic's back four which could be filled by Du Wei.

Celtic boss Gordon Strachan, who is somewhat under pressure after his side was humiliated in Europe by Slovakian champions Artmedia Bratislava, is said to be interested in taking another look at the 23-year-old, according to The Scotsman newspaper.

Meanwhile, Du Wei caused amusement in Japan after Celtic's match day programme got the Chinese trialist mixed up with their new Japanese signing, Shunsuke Nakamura. The club had advertised a pull out poster of Nakamura in their club magazine, but printed a picture of Du Wei under the Japanese player's name. Shanghaiist wonders if the Chinese were equally amused that their star player was mistaken for a Japanese.

Also in Shanghaiist:
Oh Bhoy: Is Du Wei heading due west?