Speculation is always bound to surround a club like Celtic. If it is not the transfer period, there is inevitably going to be talk of the next one. Whispers about potential targets and probable exits. And unsurprisingly, that has been the case this month as well, even though the winter window closed just a couple of weeks back.

Celtic have been linked with quite a few players regarding potential summer moves already. On the other hand, the likes of Julian Araujo and Tomas Cvancara have already shown interest in the potential of a permanent move to Parkhead, having got a taste of life in the Glasgow footballing bubble since their winter loan arrivals.

On the other hand, there are a few who might have had enough of life at Celtic Park and are thinking of life beyond it. One of them is Reo Hatate.

The Japanese midfielder was signed by the club in early 2022, during Ange Postecoglou's debut campaign. Since then, he has won four league titles with the club and is aiming for a fifth this time around. But on the other hand, there have been rumours of unhappiness and attitude issues behind the scenes lately.

It looks like they might be just that, merely rumours. At least that is what Martin O'Neill's recent comments about Hatate suggest. According to the Daily Record, the Celtic manager said: 

“I don't think that, no. That might have existed in the last couple of months or something. But now, since the window, no, he just has to try and regain form. He wants to knuckle down. He said this to me. He wants to really knuckle down. I think that some of these lads are concerned about maybe not getting into the (Japan) World Cup squad in the summertime. I think that that would eventually be some sort of by-product of what you do here. He's really got to knuckle down and be the player that he was.”

Hatate has looked completely out of form in recent weeks. That has allowed the unhappiness rumours to grow legs. But right now, it looks like the midfielder is intent on finding his touch again.

He will need to do that if he wants to be on the plane to the United States in the summer. There is plenty of competition in the Japanese national team for the World Cup, and Hatate is not someone who is an automatic selection, no matter how he does in the second half of the season.

In the long run, what does the future hold for him at Celtic? If you ask us, it feels like the end of a cycle for Hatate.

He has been at Celtic Park for four years now and pretty much done everything that he can. It is understandable why he might be looking to leave at this point.

He is 28 years of age and that window for a big move is starting to close already. Do not be surprised if Hatate does indeed complete a summer exit.

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