The Sun has picked up on speculation linking Reo Hatate with a January move to Celtic from.
Ange Postecoglou is expected to return to the J-League in January with the 23-year-old soon to be out of contract at Kawasaki Frontale.
The original source of the story seems to be a Twitter account named Marco Mollo who doesn’t appear to be linked to any website or newspaper. That would normally result in scepticism over the claim but since setting up in July of this year that account has attracted almost 12,000 followers while only following 89 Twitter accounts.
Newspapers do carry out a level of checking before running with a story- not every Twitter rumour makes its way into print.
The level of Celtic’s interest in Hatate, who is mainly described as a left-back is open to debate but covering the matter The Sun reports:
CELTIC boss Ange Postecoglou is set to move for Kawasaki Frontale star Reo Hatate, according to reports in Japan.
The Hoops boss has enjoyed huge success bringing in his countryman Kyogo Furuhashi from Vissel Kobe.
There has also been major speculation that Daizen Maeda of Postecoglou’s old team Yokohama F. Marinos could join the Japanese contingent at Parkhead in the next window.
And now Japanese football journalist Marco Molla on Twitter has claimed that man who can play at left back or in midfield “will soon agree a deal” to join the Parkhead side. Postecoglou is already on record as saying that he plans to return to the Japanese market in January.
So far this season Greg Taylor, Boli Bolingoli, Liam Scales, Adam Montgomery and Josip Juranovic have played at left-back, apart from the injured Taylor the other four are currently competing for a place with Juranovic the main in possession.
CLICK HERE for Hatate profile on Transfermarkt.
Firstly @CelticFC, could you please stop stealing my players! Secondly, Hatate is technically gifted and versatile attacker, but don’t get drawn in by his left back appearances. He is not the answer to any left back issues! https://t.co/pgw8b9qK96
— Sam Robson (@FRsoccerSam) November 3, 2021
Sam Robson is an analyst for @footballradar
