Celtic are planning to replace Reo Hatate

Reo Hatate was once a big-money move from Celtic during his prime at Parkhead, but that is no longer the case.

The Japanese player did not have a team to play against his country in the World Cup and had to watch from home when his team was beaten by Brazil in the round of 32.

His failure to get into the team may have been due to the fact that he only started three of the team’s last ten games in the Scottish Premiership last season, as he was not used in four of those games.

It has since been reported that the midfielder has told Martin O’Neill and the club that he would like to look at a move away from Glasgow this summer, after falling out of favor last term.

The Scottish giants have yet to accept a bid for the 28-year-old star, and it remains to be seen whether they are ready to let him leave.

Celtic are looking to land a Premiership midfielder

Although he finished the campaign sitting on the bench, Hatate still played 47 games in all competitions for the Premiership champions, scoring six goals and providing three assists.

The team may have to bring in another player to replace him, therefore, letting him go so that they are not left short of options in that area of ​​the field.

According to CelticShorts, O’Neill and the Celtic recruitment team are already looking for a player to replace Hatate in the team.

The Hoops are considering a move for Motherwell midfielder Elliot Watt in the summer transfer window to strengthen their midfield ranks, according to a report.

It says that the club is keeping a close eye on his situation during the player transfer window, with the aim of signing him in the coming weeks.

However, CelticShorts explains that the Turkish team Samsunspor has already submitted several requests to sign the midfielder, which means that Celtic may have to hurry if they want to sign him.

What Celtic’s interest in Elliot Watt means for Reo Hatate

The club’s pursuit of a deal to sign Watt this summer means Hatate could have a way out of Parkhead, as the Motherwell star could be a natural replacement.

As mentioned above, the Japanese player played a lot of games for this team last season and is not someone who can be released before signing a replacement, as he plays an important role in the team.

Watt, like Hathate, is a number eight who could step in and take his place in the team and allow the Scottish giants to play the field to see who they would like to sign for the Japanese ace this summer.

The way the 26-year-old star played in the Premiership last season also suggests that he will come to Parkhead to significantly improve the O’Neill Hatate.

Although not the most important part of any player’s game, Watt has the ability to make a big impact on the other end of the pitch as a scorer or goal creator, possibly scoring extra points for the team in key moments in front of goal.

It’s in the end where the Scottish ace truly shines, however, as he averages double the number of passes completed per game, while completing a high percentage of his attempted passes.

Watt has been described as “the best midfielder in the league” in 2025/26 by commentator Kai Watson and it’s easy to see why when you look at his stats, as he has completed more passes (2,347) than any other midfielder in the division.

In addition to his passing qualities, he was also more successful off possession than Hatate, winning a higher percentage of his duels on the ground and in the air.

That means Watt can give a lot to the team in all three areas of the field, defensively, building, and offensively, which is why he would be such a great addition to the team.

Now, the Scottish giants must push to win the race for his signature to both improve their squad and open the door for Hatate to leave Parkhead.