Keith Wyness shares verdict on Reo Hatate completing late Celtic move

Celtic may have to wait until the January transfer window before they can offload out-of-favour midfielder Reo Hatate.

That is according to former Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes that the Bhoys are running out of options when it comes to the future of the Japanese star.

Celtic have been keen to show the 28-year-old the door since the start of the summer, but he has already rejected multiple chances to leave.

Wyness believes that there is no "big" interest in Hatate at the moment, but also added that Martin O'Neill is highly unlikely to reintegrate him into the squad.

The former Kawasaki Frontale man made cameo appearances in both legs of the Champions League play-off tie against LASK, but is yet to make an appearance in domestic action this season.

Hatate is firmly out of favour with O'Neill, and Wyness does not expect that situation to change any time soon.

Martin O'Neill's stubbornness to come into play

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 may end up relying on injuries elsewhere for teams to make moves for Hatate in January.

It is looking increasingly unlikely that Celtic will be able to offload the player before the upcoming 3 September deadline, and that will leave them swallowing his wages for another few months at least.

Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider's Inside Track podcast, Wyness explained why Celtic's options are limited in terms of Hatate's future.

"I don't think there's any big interest in him right now. So I think they may be having him (Hatate)," he said.

"So then you've got to accept his wages until January, and then you're hoping that clubs get an injury hit and they're going to come and look for replacements at that time. So you'd be looking at that sort of scenario. 

"You could try and reintegrate him. But I know Martin is very stubborn and I don't think that is really a big option that they've got. You've got to think about that right now and get that unity in the squad.

"Failing that, then you're going to have to wait until the January window and, as I say, hope that some clubs have got some serious injury issues and he becomes available at that time."

Celtic have already lowered Reo Hatate valuation

Wyness previously told Football Insider earlier this week that Celtic have already lowered their valuation to try and get Hatate out the door.

The Scottish businessman revealed that he has heard that the Bhoys were previously holding out for £12million earlier in the window, but have now slashed their asking price down to £8m.

They are making attempts to show Hatate the door ahead of the deadline, but the player is being selective in terms of the clubs he is willing to join.

Hatate remains under contract at Celtic Park until the summer of 2028, meanning he still retains a significant amount of control over his own future.