Leicester City are weighing up a big-money offer for Celtic’s Japanese midfielder Reo Hatate.
Preparing for an imminent return to the English Premier League, Foxes manager Steve Cooper wants to add to his creative options in midfield. And, while a bid has yet to go in, Celtic are aware of Leicester’s interest.
The Parkhead club kicked out an approach for Hatate from Russian side Zenit St Petersburg earlier this month.
Speaking after Leicester’s 1-0 defeat to Palermo in Chesterfield on Friday, however, boss Cooper outlined the need for new faces.
‘Something needs to happen,’ said Cooper, also linked with Scotland and Liverpool winger Ben Doak. ‘We need players in as quickly as possible. We’re trusting each other to get the right ones in, and hopefully sooner rather than later.’
Hatate signed a contract extension last summer, tying him to Celtic until 2028, and any prospect of the Japanese playmaker leaving in the current window would effectively evaporate with the sale of Celtic midfield team-mate Matt O’Riley.
Leicester City are poised to make a big-money move for Celtic's Hatate
Hatate in action for Celtic during their friendly with Chelsea in Indiana
Hatate is greeted by Erling Haaland after Celtic's recent friendly with Manchester City
Atalanta and Southampton are vying for 23-year-old Denmark international O’Riley. The two clubs are expected to return to the table with increased offers before the Scottish champions kick off the defence of their Premiership title against Kilmarnock on Sunday.
Southampton boss Russell Martin enjoys a close relationship with O’Riley, having managed him at MK Dons, and wants to work with him again.
Europa League winners Atalanta had their latest offer of £15million plus add-ons kicked out before the midfielder shone during the impressive 4-1 thrashing of Chelsea in the final game of Celtic’s pre-season tour of the United States.
Japanese playmaker Hatate was the subject of a previous bid by Zenit St Petersburg
Hatate makes his presence felt in the Chelsea friendly, which Celtic won 4-1
Celtic would be reluctant to lose Hatate (above) if team-mate Matt O'Riley leaves, too
O’Riley, Kyogo Furuhashi, Luis Palma and Mikey Johnston scored in the Notre Dame Stadium in Indiana before Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea finally responded with a late penalty. Celtic also beat DC United 4-0 and English champions Manchester City 4-3 on the tour, with manager Brendan Rodgers content with the way his team are shaping up ahead of a new season.
‘We still have another good week’s work before we arrive at the season and I think this preparation phase, with this last 12 days, has gone as well as it could have done,’ said Rodgers. ‘Players are looking sharp, fit, intense and obviously the quality of the football to score the goals. We scored 12 goals in three games and two of those were against really high-level opponents. So, yes, we are in a good place and now we prepare for flag day.’
Rodgers is keen to strengthen his squad before the end of the window, with Paulo Bernardo agreeing terms on a £3.5million permanent move to Glasgow and another midfielder likely to come in if O’Riley goes. Celtic have also asked Wolves to send Spanish Under-21 left-back Hugo Bueno north on loan, with Royal Antwerp’s Belgian winger Michel-Ange Balikwisha another target.
Central defenders Gustaf Lagerbielke and Stephen Welsh could go out in search of first-team football, with Belgian club Mechelen one of the clubs keen to take Welsh on loan.