Udinese are reported to be preparing an offer to sign Reo Hatate.
The Italian side stepped up their interest in the midfielder by sending scouts to Celtic’s recent 5-1 win over Kilmarnock where Hatate would have caught the eye.
Without any real basis there has been a feeling that the 27-year-old could be on the move this summer even though he is sitting on a contract that runs until June 2028.
Hatate joined Celtic in January 2022 Â from Kawasaki Frontiers, making an instant impact with a long range goal at Tynecastle followed by a double in his first Glasgow Derby.
Celtic have dominated Scottish football ever since that 3-0 victory but it seems that the squad built by Ange Postecoglou could be breaking up.
The Sun reports:
UDINESE have scouted Reo Hatate as they weigh up a big-money summer swoop for the Celtic midfielder.
SunSport can reveal the Serie A side have sent officials to Hoops matches specifically to check on the Japanese ace.
Clubs in France and Germany are also thought to be keen on the 27-year-old, who has three years to run on the extension he signed in September 2023.
It means Celtic would be able to demand top dollar if the Italians try to prise him away.
But Udinese’s interest is clear and it’s understood they had a scout in the stands for the Hoops’ lunchtime clash with Kilmarnock on April 12.
Hatate scored two goals that day as Brendan Rodgers’ men ran riot in a 5-1 win against the Ayrshire side.
Over the last two summers Celtic have sold Jota and Matt O’Riley for around £25m each, it seems that there is an expectation that one significant transfer will take place every close season.
With Hatate on a long term contract Celtic have a strong degree of control over the issue, if he moves on it will be a test for Head of Football Operations Paul Tisdale to come up with a ready-made replacement.
If a decent bid comes in for Reo, then grab it.
Bob, f**k off. Leave that prick Lawwell to weaken our side year in year out but don’t support his stinking, conniving, capitalist bastard endeavours.
Hatate’s a special player, lost it for a while after injury but he’s a REAL asset and should be retained as per his contract.
Brendan needs support, not undermining, and Hatate staying is support. End of.
The huge losses from (not being involved in) CL football which were created by that fukkin arsehole Lawwell’s ‘careful’ approach are reason enough to get him tae fukk.
If you don’t/can’t see that then you may be on a level with the dumbest fans on the planet.
I sincerely hope not.
Aye that’s all very well Bob,but do you think this board under liewell will replace him,it will be like letting kyogo leave with no replacement, Rodgers will be lucky if he sees half the money we may get for hatate,it’s the same every summer,sell our good players first chance we get then scramble at the last minute to find replacements just before a CL qualifying round which looks like it could be a tough round