Reo Hatate in huge Celtic transfer boost as he sets targets for next season and shares Kyogo award envy

Reo Hatate has dropped a huge hint that he has no intention of quitting Celtic like Ange Postecoglou after revealing he's already set his targets for next season.

And he's admitted he actually felt a tinge of jealousy towards Japanese countryman Kyogo Furuhashi after he swept the board in the Player of the Year awards in Scotland but is proud of his part in his success. Hatate is preparing for Japan's internationals this month along with Furuhashi and Daizen Maeda after helping the Hoops win the treble.

He's been linked with a big move to England or abroad after an excellent season for Celtic. Furuhashi won both the PFA Scotland and SFWA Player of the Year awards after an outstanding season where he scored 27 league goals. And Hatate was proud to have played his part even though he admitted he looked on with a hint of envy. He said: "Looking back on my own season, I played 32 league games, scoring six goals and assisting nine. In all official games, I had nine goals and 11 assists.

"I was aiming for double-figure goals and double-figure assists, so while I achieved my assists, I didn't reach my goalscoring target, which will be the challenge for next season. Kyogo was named Scottish Premiership Player of the Year. As a fellow Japanese player, I felt proud, but also frustrated. If I had worked harder, I could have won that honour.

"On the one hand, I was happy for him but on the other hand, I frankly felt frustrated. It will motivate me even further to grow as a player. In the Scottish league, a foreign country, a Japanese player scored 27 goals and became the top scorer. This is no easy feat. That's why I'm happy that I was able to make a small contribution with my assists.

"Last season, when I joined Celtic in the