Celtic will fight to the bitter end to keep star midfielder, Reo Hatate at the club this summer amid rumours that Ange Postecoglou wants to take him to Tottenham Hotspur claims Football Scotland.
According to the report, Ange Postecoglou is rumoured to want to reunite with his former midfielder and make the Japanese midfielder one of his first signings at Spurs as the former Celtic manager aims to turn around the fortunes of the Premier League club.
The 25-year-old Japanese midfielder was nominated for Player of the Year after a fantastic season saw him help Celtic win their record-breaking eighth domestic treble.
His form piqued the interest Brighton and the EPL high fliers were the first team to be mentioned as a prospective destination. But the Japanese midfielder moved quickly to shut down those rumours. [Daily Record]
But Celtic are in no mood to entertain the possibility of losing Hatate unless one specific stipulation is met by any interested clubs.
The report says, “The Hoops unequivocally don’t want to lose their star man who has three years left on his contract at Parkhead.
“The feeling inside the club is that they won’t entertain any potential offers for the player unless they meet their significant valuation of the versatile star.”
What that significant valuation is anybody’s guess but you would have to imagine that it would be in the tens of millions category.
Hatate has been called up to the Japan national squad and is looking to add to the solitary cap he earned against Vietnam in March last year.
The 25-year-old has shown that he can mix it with Europe’s top teams after impressive performances in the Champions League against the likes of Real Madrid and RB Leipzig last season.
Undoubtedly, Hatate is one of Celtic’s best players and whoever the club decide to choose as their new manager will need him to help build on the success he has helped to create over the last two years at the club.
In other news, Report: Enzo Maresca to discuss future with Man City; Celtic-linked coach preference noted
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