Celtic are apparently about to open contract talks with Liel Abada and Reo Hatate over signing new contracts.
With just over two weeks left in the transfer window it is unlikely that any agent will be halting current deals to revisit contracts that run until 2026.
Neither player will be on a particularly high salary with one a teenager coming from Israel and the other arriving in Europe from Japan after just two years playing professionally.
Both players have been pivotal to Celtic’s success, none more obviously that on 2 February 2022 when they shared the three goals in the Glasgow Derby that sent Ange Postecoglou’s side into top place in the SPFL. A position they still hold 18 months later.
Over that period the form of Abada and Hatate will have been picked up, noted and followed by a variety of clubs, many from the five richest leagues.
Neither player is ready to move to a current Champions League club but an Aston Villa, West Ham or Brighton type club could expose them to top level opponents every week and onto the doorstep of the highest paying clubs in Europe.
Late this afternoon in the Record, transfer specialist Scott Burns reported:
Celtic are ready to open talks with Reo Hatate and Liel Abada over new contracts.
The highly-rated Hoops stars have both attracted strong interest in this transfer window but Brendan Rodgers wants them to remain with the Scottish champions – despite the Irishman’s public warning to Hatate last week.
The pair both have time left on their contracts but Record Sport understands Celtic want to reward them with improved deals and to increase the length of their agreements. The Parkhead board want to try to get both deals done before the close of the transfer window.
Midfielder Hatate has been something of a star turn for the club since Ange Postecoglou brought him to the club in December 2021 from Kawasaki Frontale. The 25-year-old still has three years left on his existing deal but that is set to be ripped up and improved, as has been the case with fellow Japanese star Kyogo Furuhashi in recent weeks.
Hatate has been linked with English Premier League sides Brighton and Tottenham Hotspur in recent weeks and was also subject of a big-money move to Saudi Arabia.
Soon after Brendan Rodgers came in improved contracts were signed by Callum McGregor, Daizen Maeda and Kyogo Furuhashi.
The problems Celtic face with Hatate and Abada, and probably Matt O’Riley is that they are already on long term deals with relatively modest wages.
Serious salary increases are more than deserved but already committed until 2026 players will be reluctant to extend their contracts even further.
It wouldn’t be ridiculous to suggest that Kyogo and Maeda could be on double or treble Hatate’s wages with the midfielder as important a player as anyone else in the squad.
While Hatate and Abada are already under contract until 2026 ensuring that they are properly rewarded, happy and not looking on jealously elsewhere is as important as the timespan of their contracts.
Since Abada signed he has watched Josip Juranovic, Giorgos Giakoumakis, Jota and Carl Starfelt come and go.
