Report offers hope over Reo Hatate contract talks at Celtic

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This morning, 67 Hail Hail discussed that Reo Hatate had turned down the opportunity to sign a new contract at Celtic.

The report from The Sun stated that Celtic had opened up talks with the Japanese midfielder’s representatives but that those talks to extend Hatate’s stay in Glasgow failed as improved terms were turned down by the 25-year-old.

However, all may not be lost. A recent report by The Daily Mail has claimed that whilst the initial contract offer was rejected, Hatate has not shut the door completely on the possibility of committing to the club.

The report says, “Reo Hatate has asked Celtic to place talks over a new contract on hold until the end of the transfer window. “

But even better, the report goes further and says that people close to the Celtic player say that he ‘could’ decide to extend his stay in Paradise.

Now, there are two ways you can look at this. The first is if this report is accurate and Hatate is waiting to the end of the transfer window, he could be waiting to see if other options arise amid interest from the English Premier League last season.

The second option and it is the one I hope it is, is that Hatate just wants time to consider the offer from Celtic. One major advantage is that, according to the report, money isn’t the main motivator here.

Hatate has been open and honest in the past and admitted that he would like to test himself at a higher level. The Champions League gives the Japanese a small window to do that at Celtic, but the SPFL doesn’t.

That is something we Celtic fans have had to put up with and accept, for years now. At just 25 years old, Hatate is still young enough to develop further at Celtic and put himself in the shop window.

The supporters will be hoping that he does exactly that. Because if he makes this upcoming Champions League campaign a success, he will have no shortage of offers sometime in the near future.

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