Celtic and Reo Hatate in positive new contract mood as midfielder problem named amid swirling transfer interest

Celtic and Reo Hatate remain hopeful that a new contract can be thrashed out.

Record Sport broke the story earlier this month that the champions were going to open talks with the Japanese star and Liel Abada. It has since emerged that Hatate has turned down their first offer. Club officials held initial talks with the pair and their representatives over the new deals.

Those discussions remain on-going. Celtic offered Hatate a significant wage rise but it well behind his fellow countrymen like Kyogo Furuhashi and Daizen Maeda. Hatate’s problem is that both were both Japanese internationalists and arrived in Scotland on far bigger initial contracts. Hatate came in from Kawasaki Frontale in January 2021 on a lower wage although in his time under Ange Postecoglou he quickly became a key player. Abada was frustrated under former boss Postecoglou but has become a key member under Rodgers.

Talks with Abada’s camp remain on-going. Hoops sources remain confident that deals on both fronts can be agreed. They also remain safe in the knowledge that the pair are also on long-term contracts, until the summer of 2026. Celtic, however, want to extend those deals and reward them for the impact they have made early in their Parkhead careers.

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