Japanese central midfielder Reo Hatate, who reportedly asked for a transfer from Celtic at the end of last season, has been suggested as a potential part of a swap deal involving Paderborn midfielder Mika Baur. Celtic's efforts to sign Baur have stalled due to a disagreement on the transfer fee with the newly promoted Bundesliga club, despite reportedly agreeing on personal terms with the player three weeks ago.
Paderborn values Baur at around £5 million, and it is suggested that Hatate, 28, could have a similar fee. The proposed swap is viewed as a potential solution, as Hatate has publicly stated his desire to play in one of Europe's top five leagues, with the Bundesliga mentioned as a top destination. Hatate, who joined Celtic in January 2022 and has a contract until 2028, has also been linked with West Ham United. The Japanese international has 11 caps and a current market value of €10.00m, according to Transfermarkt.
