Celtic Linked With “Relentless” £7m Star ; Talk of a Hatate Upgrade Grows
Reo Hatate’s influence in Celtic’s midfield has fluctuated during the 2025/26 season, with his role no longer guaranteed at Parkhead. The Japanese international has started only half of Celtic’s last four Premiership matches, a clear sign that his place in the XI is under closer scrutiny than before.
After registering 11 goals across 47 appearances in all competitions last season, Hatate’s attacking output has dipped noticeably. He has found the net just three times in 25 outings this term, a drop-off that has raised questions about his effectiveness in the final third.
That decline has also exposed shortcomings elsewhere in his game. Data from Sofascore shows Hatate is winning fewer than half of his duels in league action, while averaging just over one combined tackle and interception per match. These numbers suggest he is currently failing to impose himself both defensively and offensively, which has contributed to his reduced minutes.
With those issues in mind, Celtic are believed to be exploring midfield reinforcements who could challenge or even replace Hatate in the starting lineup.
A report from Bold claims the Scottish champions are monitoring Häcken midfielder Silas Andersen ahead of the January transfer deadline. Celtic are said to be keeping a close eye on the situation as they consider strengthening Martin O’Neill’s squad before the window closes.
However, they are not alone. Rangers are reportedly further along in their pursuit, having already made contact with Häcken and opened discussions over a possible deal for the Denmark U21 international. That puts Celtic in a watching brief for now, with several clubs circling the highly rated 21-year-old.
Any move would come at a significant cost, with previous reports valuing Andersen at around £7m.
If Celtic do decide to step in, it would be with the belief that Andersen could offer more balance and bite in midfield than Hatate has shown this season. While Hatate’s attacking regression has made his defensive limitations more noticeable, Andersen’s profile suggests the opposite.
During the 2025 Allsvenskan campaign, Andersen stood out for his intensity and physical presence. Described as “relentless” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, the Danish midfielder ranked among the league’s top performers for tackles and interceptions, underlining his defensive reliability.
He also excelled in physical battles, winning an impressive number of duels over the course of the season, according to FotMob. That level of aggression and consistency without the ball is precisely what Celtic have lacked in midfield at times this term, making Andersen a potential upgrade should the Hoops choose to make their move.
Thoughts?
