Matthew Chadder

Wed 14 June 2023 14:05, UK

Tottenham are reportedly in the hunt to sign Celtic star Reo Hatate.

As reported by the Daily Mail on 12 June, Tottenham are monitoring the 25-year-old midfielder but have concerns over a work permit issue. If Spurs were able to get the deal done, however, it would be a brilliant bit of business.

This would be the second time new boss Ange Postecoglou has signed Hatate after bringing him to Celtic from the J-League in 2021.

It is very clear these links have emerged as a result of Postecoglou’s appointment considering how fantastic Hatate was for the Australian coach during his time in Scotland.

Managers sometimes have players they just can’t seem to live without, Jose Mourinho and Nemanja Matic being prime examples, and this relationship between Postecoglou and Hatate could be a positive one for Spurs.

The Japanese midfielder would slot straight into Postecoglou’s system as an advanced eight, a role that he played so effectively last season, which would help him to settle at the club quickly.

Central midfielder Hatate scored nine goals and provided 11 assists in 45 appearances last season. During the season prior, he was able to score four times and provide three assists in his first 842 minutes of Scottish League action.

But it is not just goals and assists he could potentially provide. The player’s tidy and technical approach to the game is something that Spurs are currently lacking among their midfield options.

The connection between the manager and player means personal terms shouldn’t be too tricky to agree upon, with Hatate likely to jump at the chance to play under his former boss in the Premier League.

And it is clear to see why the boss was a fan of Hatate. As per stats provided by WhoScored, the Japanese international was averaging 1.8 shots and 1.3 key passes per game in the Scottish Premier League.

The midfielder also had an impressive pass success rate of 82.5 per cent per game and showed the defensive side of his game as he made 1.2 tackles per match.

The well-rounded midfielder was still putting in positive displays on European nights also. During the Scottish giants’ Champions League group-stage campaign, he was still averaging 1.2 key passes per game and a pass accuracy of 77.5 per cent, while having a shot per 90.

However, despite his promising numbers, there could be concerns over whether the player is perhaps a little lightweight for England’s top flight. The midfielder is just 5ft6 and could struggle to adapt to the physicality of the league. Yet those fears could be squashed by looking at the success of players such as Bernardo Silva, David Silva and at one point Tottenham’s own Luka Modric.

If a fee could be agreed between the two clubs it is not difficult to see this deal materialising. It appears as if Tottenham’s raid of Glasgow doesn’t seem to be finished just yet and Celtic fans might be sick of the sight of the North London club by September.

In other Tottenham news, the club might be looking to make a move for another Asian star.