Celtic are looking to add one more midfielder before the transfer window closes on September 3.
That update came from Stephen McGowan, the reporter with more than 20 years of being able to accurately read transfer activity.
Last week Celtic signed Mika Baur while selling Arne Engels.
Although both are midfielders there is little overlap in their profiles.
Engels is physical and energetic, Baur more of a craftsman, specialising in short passing and picking out team-mates in space.
That description could apply to Reo Hatate.
McGowan reports that Hatate has turned down offers from clubs in Greece, the USA and Austria in the hope of landing a move to one of Europe’s biggest leagues.
Celtic fans are more interested in incoming transfers.
CELTIC LEFT SHORT IN MIDFIELD
The sale of Engels and departure of Paulo Bernardo on loan has left midfield options looking thin.
In The Herald McGowan claims:
The Scottish champions still plan to add one more to their engine room after selling Arne Engels to West Ham United for £22million and remain in the market for a back-up to left-back Kieran Tierney.
Chelsea’s Landon Emenalo has already been in Glasgow for a tour of the club and will be given time to overcome a minor injury before a season-long loan deal is wrapped up.
Emenalo is an 18-year-old left-back yet to play a senior match. Chelsea are about to select his best development option.
Last season’s back up left-back, Marcelo Saracchi recently joined Houston Dynamo in the MLS.
If Hatate leaves Celtic’s midfield options come down to Callum McGregor, Ben Nygren, Luke McCowan, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Baur.
With the departure of Engels anticipated since January the club should be well down the road to bringing in his replacement.
Celtic have until 11pm on Tuesday to make two changes to their Champions League squad.
The sale of Engels does create a vacancy but a day before that deadline there doesn’t seem to be any strong signs of incoming transfer activity.
With the money received from West Ham Celtic have taken in around £38m in the summer transfer window.
Kasper Hogh, Camilo Duran, Baur and Haissem Hassan have cost around £27m with the possibility of additional bonus payments being made.
This what happens you have a bad transfer we have had two so we are in catch up to fill places when we transfer some out we need a box to box midfielder Chamberlians suspension i think caught out O’Neil and he will be rageing
Definitely need a hatchet man in midfield…
How long now since Broony retired !
Where is Broony 2 ?
Trj Martin @ 10.19pm…
We could pick up perhaps a semi decent Broony for £17,000 per week but hey sure, that cash is needed for Lucan who does the square root of f*ck all !