---
title: "Celtic: Hoops in talks with Reo Hatate"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-hoops-in-talks-with-reo-hatate/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Celtic News"
published: "2021-11-05T06:15:22Z"
modified: "2021-11-05T06:15:22Z"
---

# Celtic: Hoops in talks with Reo Hatate

**Celtic are in talks with Japan international Reo Hatate ahead of a possible January move, according to Scottish journalist [Mark Hendry](https://twitter.com/mhendry92/status/1455985714701688832).**

### The Lowdown: Hatate profiled

Hatate, who will turn 24 later this month, currently plies his trade with J1 League side Kawasaki Frontale.

He’s primarily a [left-back](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/reo-hatate/profil/spieler/496656) who can also play as a [left midfielder and a central midfielder](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/reo-hatate/profil/spieler/496656). Hatate, who is actually out of contract at the end of [January](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/reo-hatate/profil/spieler/496656), has [four](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/reo-hatate/profil/spieler/496656) caps to his name for Japan and has netted [11](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/reo-hatate/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/496656) goals during his career to date, [five](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/reo-hatate/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/496656) of which have come in 2021.

And it now seems as if he could join fellow countryman Kyogo Furuhashi at Celtic Park following the Hoops’ first move.

[Celtic updates!!](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/celtic-updates-15/)

### The Latest: Hendry’s claim

According to Hendry, who shared the news on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/mhendry92/status/1455985714701688832) and on [Football Scotland](https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/spfl/scottish-premiership/reo-hatate-celtic-transfer-talks-22060949), Celtic have opened talks with Hatate’s agent with a view to a January transfer.

The Hoops see Hatate as a midfield addition and could either pay a small fee at the beginning of the year or wait until the end of January ahead of a free transfer.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”375302″\]

### The Verdict: Shrewd move?

Should Hatate make the move to Parkhead in the New Year, he’d provide Postecoglou with another option in three different areas of the pitch.

The Hoops boss has relied heavily on [Callum McGregor](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/callum-mcgregor/leistungsdaten/spieler/120977), [Tom Rogic](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/tom-rogic/leistungsdaten/spieler/213672) and [David Turnbull](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/david-turnbull/leistungsdaten/spieler/345760) in midfield, and with Celtic seeing Hatate as a midfield signing, he’d be able to challenge the trio for a starting spot.

However, he’d also be able to provide cover at left-back, a position a number of players have occupied with Greg Taylor out [injured](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/greg-taylors-celtic-injury-timeframe-25031792).

On that basis, a small fee or even a free transfer for the versatile international appears to be a smart move, especially with Postecoglou presumably knowing a lot about Hatate during his time as manager of Yokohama F. Marinos.

***In other news: [Journalist drops Celtic’s chances of signing ‘great’ £12.6m-rated forward in Jan.](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-transfer-rumours/celtic-kieran-devlin-rates-chances-of-hoops-signing-jordan-larsson/)***