With or without lifting the Scottish Premiership title this season, change feels inevitable at Celtic and has arguably been overdue since the exit of Brendan Rodgers.
There are plenty who believe that shake up should begin in the boardroom, but that scenario looks unlikely for now. Instead, attention is expected to shift toward appointing a new manager and beginning a long awaited rebuild of the squad.
A number of players are starting to look out of place, and some are even beginning to resemble how Odsonne Edouard’s time at Celtic Park came to an underwhelming end.
How Edouard tarnished his Celtic legacy:
Despite the frustration surrounding Edouard’s departure, it is important to remember just how influential he was during the early part of his time at the club.
The French striker arrived from Paris Saint Germain and quickly established himself as a top signing, winning four league titles and scoring 87 goals in 179 appearances.
His first two campaigns stood out in particular. He hit 22 goals in all competitions before improving that tally with 29 goals and 17 assists the following season. At that stage, he was comfortably Celtic’s standout performer.
However, that relationship was never likely to last forever as his reputation continued to grow. Once it became clear he wanted a move away, it was Celtic who paid the price, with Rangers taking advantage to claim the Scottish Premiership.
That decision left a mark on his legacy, as he swapped Scotland for Crystal Palace but never managed to reach the same level again.
A month before his exit was confirmed, former Celtic manager Neil Lennon said in 2021: “You could tell in the preseason when he went to France that his body language wasn’t with us. He was of his mindset with his representatives that a move was in the offing.”
While not a dramatic drop, his numbers did dip in his final season, and that decline played its part in Celtic losing their grip on the title.
Now, years later, there are signs of a similar situation developing with Reo Hatate, who appears to have lost focus amid speculation over a possible summer transfer.
Celtic’s new Edouard
When Hatate first arrived at Celtic, he made an immediate impact under Ange Postecoglou. The midfielder played a key role in securing the title after joining midway through the season, starting 16 of the final 18 league matches and quickly winning over supporters.
His influence continued into the following campaign. The Japanese international started 24 of the 27 league matches he was available for before the split, helping Celtic reclaim the title once again while contributing 11 goals across all competitions.
Hatate has been so reliable that it is only this season, his fourth in Scotland, where his form has dipped. Under normal circumstances, that might not raise too many concerns, but the timing of this downturn has raised questions.
It is unlikely to be about ability alone. While the instability in management has not helped, his struggles have coincided with ongoing rumours linking him with a move away from Scotland this summer.
It echoes how Edouard’s situation unfolded towards the end of his spell, and Celtic cannot afford to carry players who are not consistently performing at their best.
If offers come in for the £1.4 million signing this summer, those at Celtic Park may be better off accepting and using the funds to support a necessary rebuild under a new manager.
The statistics do not paint a positive picture. Hatate’s dip in form compared to his earlier seasons is clear, and Celtic may look to maximise value now, especially before considering potential sales of players like Daizen Maeda, who has also struggled to hit previous standards this campaign.