NafisaCeltic’s humiliating Champions League exit against LASK has already led to major questions over the squad, and Reo Hatate now appears to be one of the players facing an uncertain future at Parkhead.
The Hoops travelled to Austria with a commanding 3-0 first-leg advantage and even extended their lead to four goals when Callum McGregor opened the scoring.
Few could have predicted what happened next.
LASK produced a stunning comeback, scoring five unanswered goals to win 5-1 on the night and send Celtic crashing out of the Champions League 5-4 on aggregate.
The defeat has placed the spotlight firmly on Martin O’Neill’s squad, with the manager admitting afterwards that Celtic remain a long way from the finished article.
And amid the fallout, fresh developments surrounding Hatate’s future suggest the Japanese midfielder could be one of the players sacrificed as O’Neill looks to reshape his team.
Celtic ready to force Hatate towards the exit
Hatate has reportedly made it clear from the beginning of the summer that he would like to leave Celtic, although no deal has yet materialised.
Celtic have received approaches from Greek side Panathinaikos, while clubs from Austria and MLS have also shown interest.
However, the Hoops have rejected the approaches received so far despite Hatate having two years remaining on his contract.
The midfielder did feature during the Champions League campaign, coming off the bench during Celtic’s 3-0 first-leg victory over LASK.
That appearance suggested there could still be a route back into O’Neill’s plans.
But his situation now appears to have changed dramatically following the collapse in Austria.
Football Insider claim Celtic have made a final decision to sell the 28-year-old this summer and are prepared to make his position within the squad increasingly difficult.
The report states that Celtic want to bring in another midfielder before the transfer deadline, which would push Hatate even further down the pecking order.
In other words, the Hoops could effectively force the Japanese international towards the exit by making it clear that regular first-team football will be difficult to find.
Hatate already facing increased competition
Celtic have already strengthened their midfield this summer with the arrival of German midfielder Mika Baur from Paderborn in a reported £6.7million deal.
The club are also continuing to monitor potential midfield additions, with Ermin Mahmic of Slovan Liberec and Torino’s Gvidas Gineitis among the names linked with a move.
That could leave Hatate facing an increasingly difficult battle for minutes.
The departure of Arne Engels to West Ham for a reported £22million initially left Celtic short of numbers in midfield, but O’Neill appears determined to address that before the window closes.
If further reinforcements arrive, Hatate’s position could become almost impossible to recover.
Journalist Pete O’Rourke believes the midfielder will struggle to force his way back into the team if Celtic continue adding competition.
“If Celtic do add to their midfield this summer with more reinforcements, it’s only going to push Reo Hatate further down the pecking order,” O’Rourke said.
“He found himself down the pecking order at the back end of last season under Martin O’Neill as Celtic were going for the title. He’s going to find it difficult, I think, to break into that Celtic side because of the competition in the engine room. Celtic are obviously open to offers for Hatate, having made him available.”
LASK defeat could accelerate Celtic’s squad rebuild
The timing of the Hatate developments is particularly interesting.
Celtic’s collapse in Austria exposed just how much work O’Neill believes remains to be done.
The manager has already admitted that his side are “a million miles from the finished article”, while also acknowledging that Champions League qualification would have helped attract certain transfer targets.
Now, with Celtic dropping into the Europa League, O’Neill must decide exactly how he wants his squad to look for the remainder of the season.
Hatate appears increasingly unlikely to be part of that long-term picture.
The Japanese midfielder has been a key player for Celtic during his time in Glasgow, but his desire for a move combined with the club’s willingness to strengthen in his position could ultimately bring his Parkhead career to an end.
The club’s reported strategy is clear: add another midfielder, increase competition and leave Hatate with fewer opportunities to play.
A painful ending for Hatate?
There is still time for a suitable offer to arrive before the transfer window closes.
Celtic have already rejected approaches, so their valuation will ultimately determine whether Hatate gets his desired move.
But if another midfielder arrives, the situation could become increasingly uncomfortable for everyone involved.
Hatate may have wanted to leave Celtic anyway.
Now, however, it appears the club are prepared to help make that decision for him.
After the devastating 5-1 defeat to LASK and the subsequent Champions League exit, O’Neill has already made it clear that major improvements are required.
Hatate could be one of the casualties of that rebuild.
For a player who has previously been such an important part of Celtic’s midfield, the possibility of being pushed towards the Parkhead exit door represents a significant change in circumstances.
And with the transfer deadline approaching, his next move could be one of the most interesting Celtic stories to watch.
Nafisa
