Even though Celtic are closing in on another treble, their team could look very different next season. For a while, it has felt like a cycle is coming to an end and the squad has stagnated a bit, having won four league titles together. So, it might be time to shake things up a bit. That would mean the departure of some popular players.
Daizen Maeda is the one who has been most heavily linked with a move away from Celtic in recent months after enjoying his best season since moving to Glasgow, having scored 33 goals and provided 12 assists. But he is not the only Japanese international who could be heading for the Parkhead exit door.
Reo Hatate joined Celtic in the same window as Maeda. And having enjoyed a starting role at the club for the past three-and-a-half years, it might be time for him to seek a new challenge.
It looks like Hatate feels that the time is right for a new adventure. As reported by CeltsAreHere, Keith Jackson said on Hotline Live:
"I think you’re going to have to brace yourself for bad news on that front.
“He’s been making noises, and I think people inside Celtic know it. I’m not going to say he’s been agitating because I don’t think he’s been rocking any boats, but it’s fairly well established—well known behind the scenes—that there’s a touch of the Kyogo Furuhashi’s about it.
“That’s one reason why one of the priority targets for Brendan Rodgers this summer will be a central midfield player. I don’t think Celtic want to lose Hatate, but I think he feels the time is right to make a move. He’s probably looking at getting into one of Europe’s top leagues. He’s just not going to get the opportunity to play Champions League football at Celtic, and I think he’s striving for something more than that."
Celtic player quietly pushing for exit behind the scenes
It would be a blow for Celtic if Hatate does end up leaving in the summer. He has been a stalwart in the middle of the park for the club since arriving in early 2022.
That being said, if he feels that he has done everything possible at Celtic, then perhaps it might be time to part ways. There is no point keeping someone at the club, if he does not want to stay. And Hatate deserves to make his next career choice.
Let's see what the future holds for Hatate. An exit might make sense, considering how many midfielders Celtic have been linked with in recent weeks. Perhaps they have known for a while that he could be on the way out this summer.