- An unnamed Premier League club has asked the Scottish champions to open negotiations for the Japanese star
- But Celtic have rejected an invitation to begin transfer talks before money was even considered.
- The reluctance to let Hatate go has been heightened by concerns over dealing with Russian clubs during the Ukraine conflict.
Celtic have rejected a bid from Russia for their Japanese midfielder Reo Hatate.
The Parkhead club were asked to enter into negotiations with unnamed Russian Premier League club Mir earlier this week.
Hatate has been a key player since moving to Scotland two-and-a-half years ago, but Celtic’s reluctance to let the 26-year-old go has been heightened by concerns over dealing with Russian clubs following the country’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Russia has since been banned from international football, while UEFA, European football’s governing body, has maintained a blanket ban on Russian teams taking part in continental competitions. The European Union has also imposed large-scale sanctions on Russian companies and individuals.
Celtic have rejected an invitation to begin transfer negotiations for Hatate before a fee has been discussed.
An investigation by website Follow The Money has found that eight clubs from Austria, Bulgaria, France, Hungary, the Netherlands, Slovakia and Slovenia did business with Russian clubs in the January window despite legal and ethical concerns over the matter.
Hatate has become one of Celtic’s key players over the past two and a half years.
Celtic are said to be reluctant to lose him and have rejected an approach from Russia
Japanese midfielder Hatate signed for the Scottish champions in January 2022
Major League Soccer has blocked the signing of FC Dallas striker Jesus Ferreira to Spartak Moscow, arguing that the risk of American companies becoming involved with Russia was too great.
However, since the start of the war in Ukraine, football clubs have reportedly concluded 114 deals with Russian teams worth an estimated £300m.
Speaking to Japanese media earlier this week, Hatate expressed his desire to play in one of Europe’s top leagues in the future.
Hatate has brought skill and guile to Celtic’s midfield in recent campaigns.
MLS rejected a similar move from Russia for FC Dallas player Jesus Ferreira, above
Atalanta are the latest club to show serious interest in Celtic midfielder Matt O’Riley
“There are still higher leagues, so if I can compete in those leagues, I want to do it,” he said. “If I don’t aim for that, there’s no point in me continuing as an athlete. I want to keep aiming high. I would like to play in the Premier League, as well as in Spain or Italy.”
With team-mate Matt O’Riley expected to leave Parkhead this summer, Celtic do not want to lose two of their most influential midfielders in the same transfer window.
Serie A side Atalanta are the latest club to show serious interest in Denmark international O’Riley and the 23-year-old is also being monitored by the likes of Atletico Madrid and Southampton.