£5m “elite” star now needs to signal for Celtic

Sweeping modifications lie in retailer at Celtic this summer season, with the facet that after appeared so rampant beneath Ange Postecoglou having been swiftly dismantled within the years since.

A Postecoglou-style rebuild is required beneath Martin O’Neill this time round, notably with two key figures of that prior regime anticipated to depart, within the type of Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate.

The Japanese duo ranked eleventh and twelfth on the checklist with regard to most appearances made beneath the Aussie genius, with Callum McGregor, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Jota the one members of the highest ten nonetheless on the membership.

There have been notable highs even since Postecoglou’s exit, however for Hatate, particularly, the time has come to say goodbye, with midfield replacements already being lined up.

Celtic already held talks to signal £5m midfield sensation

There may nicely be one thing of a midfield exodus at Paradise this summer season, with Hatate not the one determine going through an unsure future beneath O’Neill.

Paulo Bernardo seems destined for an exit after making simply seven begins final time period in all competitions, whereas it stays to be seen if Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s short-term deal will probably be prolonged.

Equally too, curiosity is mounting from the Premier League in Belgian gem, Arne Engels, the 22-year-old having been the topic of a £25m bid from Nottingham Forest on deadline day.

Arrivals are required, and swiftly, with CeltsAreHere reporting that the membership have already made an strategy for Hibernian starlet, Miguel Chaiwa.

As per the report, that enquiry got here late final month, though the 22-year-old remains to be eager on the transfer, even with two years nonetheless to run on his contract at Easter Street.

The Edinburgh facet are in no rush to promote, but the report does counsel {that a} charge near £4m-£5m could possibly be sufficient to strike a deal, even after prior claims that the Zambian may fetch as a lot as £7m.

Why Chaiwa could possibly be the proper Hatate substitute

Whereas Maeda loved what might need been a shocking farewell tour within the closing weeks of the season, his compatriot was virtually a bystander to proceedings within the run-in, solid apart by O’Neill.

Lengthy linked with a transfer away previous to the beginning of 2025/26, Hatate appeared nicely in need of his earlier finest, having scored simply two Premiership targets all season.

The 28-year-old did not begin any of the ultimate seven league video games, was an unused substitute for 3 of these and missed out on the matchday squad altogether on the ultimate day, as he did for the Scottish Cup closing overcome Dunfermline.

Any participant can endure a dip in kind in entrance of aim, but there seemed to be an actual decline when it comes to Hatate’s work out of possession. In his first full season in 2022/23, for example, he was averaging 3.6 duels received per recreation. That determine was halved final season.

Whereas Chaiwa is not a goalscoring midfielder himself, he would supply an actual improve in a defensive sense, such an energic, all-action asset within the Hibs midfield.

Lauded for his “elite tempo” by author Michael Shearer, Chaiwa was additionally described as a “correct modern-day midfielder” by Hibs boss David Grey, one not essentially confined to a particular function within the midfield.

He was right here there and all over the place in his debut marketing campaign at Easter Street, showcasing the kind of athleticism that was distinctly missing from Hatate in inexperienced and white.

Certainly, in distinction to the Celtic man, Chaiwa averaged a stellar 5 duels received per recreation throughout 2025/26, having began 22 instances following his transfer from Swiss facet BSC Younger Boys.

The £5m-rated sensation additionally averaged 1.8 tackles and interceptions per recreation, alongside 3.9 ball recoveries per outing, additional highlighting that duel-winning dominance. For comparability, Hatate averaged simply 1.0 and a pair of.3 for those self same two metrics, respectively.

What additionally stands out concerning Chaiwa is his progressive, ball-carrying high quality, having additionally averaged 0.8 profitable dribbles per recreation – once more forward of Hatate (0.4).

In his pomp – like when registering 14 targets and assists in 2022/23 – Hatate was integral to all the pieces good about Celtic, a participant who appeared like an actual coup following his discount £1.1m arrival.

Who can neglect that brace towards Rangers in February 2022, one of many nice nights in fashionable reminiscence at Paradise?

That participant hasn’t been seen shortly, sadly, with Chaiwa set to signify an ideal improve on the present iteration of Hatate.