Celtic Ready To Sell 28-Year-Old Amid Fresh Bids: Right Decision?

Celtic Ready To Sell 28-Year-Old Amid Fresh Bids: Right Decision? Celtic are ready to part company with Reo Hatate before the September transfer deadline, as per Glasgow World , with the 28-year-old Japanese midfielder seemingly no longer wanted at Parkhead. Celtic ready to sell Reo Hatate as transfer standoff intensifies Hatate wanted out from the opening weeks of the summer window. Celtic initially rejected bids from Panathinaikos, MLS and Austria, yet their stance has since softened. With two years remaining on his contract, the club now appear determined to move him on. Why Celtic have changed their stance There is little mystery surrounding the decision. Hatate played 30 Scottish Premiership matches last season but scored only twice, while his place in the side became increasingly uncertain when Martin O’Neill demanded greater defensive discipline and physical strength in midfield. Come the title run-in, Hatate was barely involved. Celtic looked more secure without him, and the pattern has carried into the new campaign. Across four fixtures, he’s managed just 25 minutes from the bench. That tells you plenty. Celtic don’t need another midfielder who is neither fully trusted nor particularly keen to stay. Every week spent on the bench also chips away at his value, with his market worth reportedly around €8 million. The awkward part of Hatate’s exit GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – MAY 10: Reo Hatate of Celtic arrives at the stadium prior to the Premier League match between Celtic and Rangers at Celtic Park on May 10, 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images) There’s a problem, though. Offers have arrived, but none appears to meet Hatate’s ambitions. Panathinaikos have tried. So have clubs from MLS and the Austrian league. Yet the midfielder is reportedly holding out for a move to one of Europe’s top-five leagues. That may leave Celtic in a difficult little staring contest. For the player, waiting is risky. For Celtic, keeping a highly paid unhappy squad member serves little purpose. Celtic already have a replacement plan The club’s recruitment work suggests this isn’t simply about clearing wages. Talks have opened with Slovan Liberec over Bosnia international Tarw Mahmic , valued at roughly £8.5 million after impressing at the recent World Cup. Gvidas Gineitis of Verona and Rijeka’s Niko Sigur are also being considered, with Celtic looking for more bite, running power and defensive authority in the middle of the park. The timing matters, too. Celtic’s Champions League progress, including a 3-0 first-leg victory over LASK, gives them room to spend. Hatate’s technical quality has never really been the question. The issue is whether his style fits what O’Neill wants from this midfield now.