'Inevitable' Celtic star Reo Hatate will be eyed by Premier League clubs

Celtic star Reo Hatate is certain to work his way onto the radar of Premier League clubs if he maintains his red-hot form, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

Hatate may have only secured a move to Scotland just before the January transfer window officially opened for business, but there are suggestions that his stay at Parkhead could be short-lived.

Celtic completed the triple signing of Hatate, Daizen Maeda and Yosuke Ideguchi on New Year’s Eve, with the trio arriving from the Japanese top flight.

Bhoys boss Ange Postecoglou, who moved into the hot seat last summer, claimed the trio would ‘excite our fans’.

Hatate has certainly done that and Celtic are already expected to make a significant profit on their £1.4million investment in the midfielder.

He has caught the eye of ex-Aston Villa frontman Gabby Agbonlahor, who has described Hatate as ‘outstanding’ and claimed his value has already tripled since heading to the Scottish Premiership.

Former Aberdeen striker Noel Whelan has suggested Premier League clubs could already be plotting a move ahead of the transfer window reopening in the summer.

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O’Rourke is adamant that Premier League clubs will be keen on prising Hatate away from Celtic after making a blistering start to his Hoops career.

The journalist feels a continuation of the 24-year-old’s fine form could hamper the Glasgow giants’ hopes of keeping him at Parkhead on a long-term basis.

When asked whether some of the biggest clubs south of the border would be hoping to steal Hatate away from Parkhead, O’Rourke told GIVEMESPORT: “Yes, I think, 100%.

“If Reo Hatate keeps performing at the levels that he has been, it’s inevitable that Premier