Given the financial gulf between English and Scottish football, it’s pretty simple: perform for Celtic and you will get a Premier League move.
That has been the case over the years, with Matt O’Riley, Kieran Tierney, and Odsonne Edouard, to name a few, who have secured big moves to England’s top-flight.
But looking at the state of Celtic right now, certain players are lucky to be starting for the champions of Scotland, never mind another team putting big money on the table for their talents.
Chris Sutton believes that’s the case with Reo Hatate, signed by Ange Postecoglou in 2022, following Celtic’s defeat to Dundee over the weekend.
Chris Sutton thought Reo Hatate would be a Premier League player by now
Hatate was criticised for his Dundee performance, as Sutton went one step further and claimed that he is ‘miles off’ it right now.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Sutton admitted that he thought someone like Hatate would be playing in the English Premier League by now.
But that’s far from the case, as the former Hoops striker was only keen to defend Callum McGregor once more.
“First of all, it’s not a great surprise (that Celtic have lost),” said Sutton. “I know we talk about Dundee’s record.
“You can look at recent games. Winning late at Kilmarnock and coming from behind against Motherwell, but papering over the cracks.
“You can say it’s rank rotten recruitment. But there are a lot of players, and it was good to hear Brendan take a bit of responsibility, who are underperforming.
“Reo Hatate, when he first came to the club, I thought he was going to the next one to go down south to the Premier League. Miles off it this season.
“People are pointing the finger at Callum McGregor. I am not saying Callum had a good game. But I don’t see him being the biggest problem. I don’t see him being the biggest problem.”
Hatate’s numbers for Celtic this season
A lot has been said of Celtic’s recruitment of late, but one thing can’t be denied is that when Postecoglou was in charge, things went very well.
That has been proved by players like Hatate, who has produced some seriously incredible moments in the famous green and white colours.
But those special moments are now few and far between for the Japan star because he is lucky to be in Brendan Rodgers’ starting XI right now.
- Hatate’s WhoScored Premiership rating: 6.78
- Games: 6
- Goals: 1
- Assists: –
- Minutes: 455
- Hatate’s WhoScored Europa League rating: 6.11
- Games: 2
- Goals: –
- Assists: –
- Minutes: 91
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