Keith Wyness shares update on Reo Hatate's Celtic transfer: 'I'm hearing...'
Celtic are effectively "burning cash" with every passing week that Reo Hatate remains part of their squad.
That is according to former Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes that there is a lack of transfer interest in the Bhoys midfielder.
The 28-year-old has already rejected several chances to move away from Celtic Park in recent weeks, and is understood to be holding out for a club from Europe's top five leagues to come in for him.
Wyness believes that Celtic will be left with no choice but to lower their asking price as a result, as they can't afford to have him on their wage bill for another season.
Hatate's only appearances so far this term have come in the Champions League play-off clash with LASK, while Martin O'Neill has effectively frozen him out in domestic action.
The Japanese star is into the final two years of his contract, but offloading him hasn't proved easy for Celtic of late.
Celtic to accept £8m Reo Hatate offer
Aberdeen's former chief Wyness - who served as CEO at Pittodrie between 2000 and 2004 and now runs a consultancy business advising elite clubs - believes that Celtic will need to lower their asking price down to £8million to spark further interest in Hatate.
He believes that swallowing a smaller fee now may help the Glasgow giants in the long run, rather than paying the player's wages for another campaign.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider's Inside Track podcast, he explained why Hatate's stance is making it difficult to finalise a sale.
"I think they've been looking around about £12m. So I think you have to drop to something like £8m if you're going to try and sell him," Wyness said.
"From what I'm hearing, there's a lack of interest. I think they'll try their best to try and get something done this week. It seems he wants to wait for a certain quality of club to come.
"They need to get rid now because every week that you're spending wages on a point of principle, you're burning cash. If the right club comes in, there could even be injuries this weekend that could dictate an offer for him.
"So they'll be looking for that sort of situation. It's a fluid situation, but Celtic haven't got the best of options right now."
Celtic ready last-minute Southampton move
Football Insider revealed earlier this week that Celtic are keen to sign Southampton right-back Yukinari Sugawara before the upcoming deadline.
O'Neill and Co. are hoping to add another right-back to their group after Alistair Johnston's latest injury setback, with a loan deal believed to be the "ideal solution."
Sugawara has been identified as a strong option for the Bhoys, and is yet to feature in a matchday squad for Southampton so far this season.
His availability has alerted the Bhoys in the final stages of the transfer window, with their coaching staff imrpessed by the 26-year-old's experience.