£50m for Celtic PLC? We'd rather keep Matt and Reo

To lose Matt will be a big blow, but to lose Reo would be a devastating one. We must keep him at all costs…

Reo Hatate directs his team during the pre-season match against Manchester City at Kenan Stadium on July 23, 2024 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

It seems inevitable that Matt O’Riley will soon leave Celtic, now it’s been reported in the media in the last 24 hours that Reo Hatate is attracting interest, most notably from Leicester City.

Reo is a class act and has impressed in pre-season against some top class opposition, so it’s no surprise that he’s attracting interest from other clubs, but with all due respect to the newly promoted Foxes, he should be aiming much higher than Leicester.

And from Celtic’s point of view, Hatate’s valuation will only soar after he completes an injury free season working under Brendan Rodgers. He also has to prove to suitors that he can stay fit after a hugely frustrating campaign curtained his football significantly and prevented him from shining on the Champions League stage where Matt O’Riley, Kyogo and Luis Palma were left to lead the way for Celtic.

Celtic v Chelsea Jul 27, 2024 South Bend, IN, USA Celtic player Matt OÕRiley is congratulated by teammates after scoring goal against Chelsea. Photo Matt Cashore

Of course it’s all down to money in the end, and Leicester City can offer him that along with the ‘glamour’ of the EPL. But with Reo contracted to 2028 the ball is firmly in the club’s court and will only let him leave if they are offered top dollar. It is also highly unlikely that Celtic would sell both O’Riley and Hatate in the same window as that would leave both the support and indeed the manager mightily frustrated.

So we must do all we can to keep him here for another season at least. Losing Matt will be a big blow, but losing Reo on top would be a disaster. Going into the new season without two of our best players is unthinkable, no matter the financial gain for the club. We need to stand firm.

Reo Hatate of Celtic FC during the UEFA Champions League match between Feyenoord and Celtic FC at Feyenoord Stadium de Kuip on September 19, 2023 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. ANP Hollandse Hoogte JEROEN PUTMANS

Supporters marvel at the Celtic bank balance, with all that money resting in the PLC bank account, saving up for a rainy day when there’s no Champions League income. That will be more likely incidentally as we are not too far away from having to play qualifiers even as Scottish Champions. That’s Celtic paying the price for failing to invest in the squad over the past number of years.

A real statement of intent would be to keep both Matt and Reo and let them make a name for themselves in the Champions League. They looked mightily impressive together the other night against Chelsea, did they not.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy