Celtic backed to secure transfer of ‘street-wise’ footballer amid Reo Hatate’s injury

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Celtic’s season is done and dusted, and now attention will turn to the summer transfer market.

Brendan Rodgers guided Celtic to another double, as the Bhoys were denied the Treble after being beaten by Aberdeen on penalties in the Scottish Cup final on Saturday at Hampden.

Reo Hatate was missing due to injury, as it remains to be seen how long he will be sidelined for and what happens to his future.

Whilst Celtic never want to sell any key players, at the end of the day, money talks, especially if Premier League clubs come knocking with their huge pockets.

And, given that Hatate is one of Celtic’s key men, it will be interesting to see what happens with him when the transfer window re-opens.

• READ MORE: Sky Sports confirm transfer ‘talks’ between Celtic and out of contract Premier League left-back

Celtic backed to sign Lennon Miller amid Reo Hatate’s injury

Even with Hatate in the building, and even if he is fine to start pre-season, Stephen McGinn has backed the champions of Scotland to sign Lennon Miller from Motherwell.

The Celtic-mad pundit has told Go Radio that Miller has the ‘street-wise’ qualities to play for Scotland’s biggest club.

McGinn admitted that he wants the powers that be at Celtic Park to sign a ‘destroyer’ to help out Callum McGregor, but someone like Miller can certainly challenge Hatate.

“If Reo Hatate is fit anyway, I think they need to go and spend a bit of money on a central midfielder,” said McGinn.

Andy Walker then asks: “Do you think Lennon Miller could play in a Celtic team. Let’s say Hatate is out injured for some time, and you say, ‘Celtic need another midfielder’. Could Lennon Miller play for Celtic? And make them better alongside McGregor and Engels?”

McGinn then responded: “I think Lennon Miller is one, in terms of long term. You think, once they leave the country, you can’t get them back.

“In terms of the level of talent, he seems to relish the expectation and everything that comes with being a big name. A big potential. I think he certainly can go in there and do a job. He is different to what they need, in terms of that destroyer. I do think they need someone like a Wanyama. Scott Brown as such.

“Lennon Miller would be more of the Hatate kind of role. Where he would get on the ball. Technically, he would be excellent. He is a bit street-wise.”

Miller vs Hatate stats this season

The issue with someone coming in to challenge Hatate, fill in for him if he is injured, or replace him if he leaves, is trying to match the ridiculous levels he has hit.

On his day, not many can cope with the Japan star, as he proved during Celtic’s Champions League run this season.

But how do Hatate and Miller compare this season in the Premiership alone?