The talent has never really been in doubt. The consistency of performance has been another question entirely. But the irony may be that just as Reo Hatate is producing his most impressive and sustained period of form for Celtic, that he is bound for the exit.
The midfielder is about to complete his fourth season in Glasgow, and after a rough start under Brendan Rodgers last term as he was ousted from the starting XI by David Turnbull, his manager has managed to find a way to squeeze the best from the gifted Japanese.
The 27-year-old has another three years left on his contract, but he has never hidden his desire to play in one of Europe’s top five leagues. It is understood that he sees this summer as the right time to move on, and Celtic, with their recent track record of cashing in on their assets precisely when it is likely to maximise their return, may well agree.
Rodgers was non-committal on the topic when questioned on reports linking Hatate with a move to Serie A or whether he will remain at the club, leaving the door open to either possibility.
“I think the club will always sit down with the representatives,” Rodgers said.
“I know Michael will be doing that over the course of these coming months with all the players and the negotiations. I'm sure agents will be coming in to see him as well!
“I think for Reo I can feel a little bit, especially in the first year here, that there was a little bit of inconsistency there.
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“There's absolutely no doubt he's a big talent. He's obviously a bit later in age now, even though he's 27, but maybe some clubs look at him and think he's at the wrong end of the asset age. They tend to go for younger players.
“But for me, he's an absolutely outstanding player. How he protects the ball, how he's prepared to play the risk pass. He's got goals, he can take the ball.
“I think the challenge for him has been sometimes in that really busy period when there's three games a week and in that third game there's a bit of tiredness that sets in.
“But you see him now, especially when there's one game a week, he's so good. He's a really gifted player.
“It took me a wee while to get inside him and his mind and everything else, but he's absolutely superb.
“He's certainly not underestimated by ourselves because he's been really, really good this year.”
Rodgers has already spoken of the possibility for changes within his squad this summer as he look to freshen things up, and he has a number in mind of recruits he may need whether Hatate or others should stay or go.
“When I say change, it's just something that's natural, it's not me demanding this for this group,” he said.
“Change will just naturally take place.
“If every player was here in the squad and every player was staying, I would say I'd probably need three players to add to what we have of quality, but that's probably not going to be the case.
“So, there will be interest for players, I'm pretty sure, because of the level the team has been at. And then we have to assess it from there, and then I think players that maybe aren't playing so much will move on.
“So, then all of a sudden you have change. But that's also good, you have to do that to progress.
“This team have been absolutely brilliant over the couple of years they've been here. But I think there'll be some natural movement come the summer.
“But either way, we look to come back in pre-season and by the end of the window, the summer, we’ll be stronger.”
Rodgers welcomes number one goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel back into the squad for the game against Hibernian at Celtic Park following his recovery from a shoulder injury, but with back-up Viljami Sinisalo impressing during his time out, he won’t be risking the Dane unnecessarily with the Scottish Cup final on the horizon.
“I think it's been an interesting one, because if Kasper had stayed fit, we may not have seen so much of Vil,” he said.
“Then we would have had a decision in the summer, because he's a very, very talented young goalkeeper. It was then the case of, does he go out on loan to get that experience, with a view to coming back to challenge him to be number one?
“But indirectly, the situation has really, really helped us and cleared up that thinking – because he's been excellent when he's played. He's played with real authority and calmness for such a young goalkeeper.
“He had a big test away at Ibrox last week. He came through that really, really well. So, I've been really, really pleased for him.
“Kasper clearly is our number one goalkeeper. He's been brilliant for us all season. It's just really good to have him back and available, and then we assess it from there.
“Kasper, we've been careful with him and we'll wait to see how his shoulder is and how it has reacted, and then we can make a decision then, who will play [against Hibs]. But yes, it's just the nature of it.
“We brought Vil in here to eventually be the number one goalkeeper, and everything to that plan is on point at this moment in time.
“He's been very, very good. I've been really, really impressed with him in the games, and it’s great to have that.”
