Reo Hatate 'rejects' new Celtic contract as star turns down deal amid major transfer interest

Celtic star Reo Hatate has reportedly turned down a contract extension with the Premiership champions.

The midfielder has a deal which runs to 2026 and Record Sport revealed Parkhead chiefs had opened discussions with both the 25-year-old and Liel Abada over joining Callum McGregor, Kyogo and Daizen Maeda in penning new contracts. But the Scottish Sun state talks with the Japan international have been unsuccessful. Hatate has been open in recent months about his desire to test himself in a top five league and it's understood he has earned admiring glances from Saudi clubs.

The former Kawasaki Frontale is currently on the sidelines after hobbling off in the 3-1 win over Aberdeen with a muscle injury and is a major doubt to be in contention to take on rivals Rangers at the start of September. The midfielder has earned acclaim for his eye-catching displays under the tutelage of former boss Ange Postecoglou. Hatate started on the bench in both of Celtic's Premiership opener before he was sidelined.

Meanwhile, Brendan Rodgers is adamant his Celtic side must weather their injury storm with a host of players absent. He said: “It’s very frustrating. You want to have your best players available and clearly that’s not the case for us. We just have to deal with it. We’ve got lots of capable players in the squad and they’ll step up.

“Ibrox is a great place to go and win as a Celtic manager and player and that will be our aim. We will go there and look to play to the level we want to play in terms of performance and if we can do that we’ll always be in with a chance.”