As Celtic suffered successive Scottish Premiership defeats for the first time in a decade, the absence of an injured Reo Hatate was certainly keenly felt.
Brendan Rodgers’ side limped to insipid defeats against Kilmarnock and Hearts, scoring once across 180 minutes and crying out for the guile and the creativity their stylish Japan international usually brings to proceedings. And, with Hatate’s absence likely to continue with the Asian Cup on the horizon – presuming he is fit to travel of course – things could yet get worse before they get better for a Celtic side slipping well below the sky-high standards they set under Ange Postecoglou.
And while suggestions that Celtic could turn to the transfer window to solve their issues may lead to a chorus of scoffs and ‘yeah rights’ – the club’s recruitment has left a lot to be desired of late – reports linking Amane Romeo with a January move to Parkhead at least suggest that a solution to their Hatate problem is being sourced.
Celtic are scouting BK Hacken ace Romeo Amane
Former Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner likened Hatate to Andres Iniesta last year. And it just so happens that Amane models his game on that of the Barcelona icon.
“I watched Iniesta a lot when I was growing up and tried to learn from his way of playing,” the 20-year-old Ivorian explained after joining BK Hacken in Sweden. “My strength lies in my passing game.”
Impressive technical ability and an intelligent use of possession is often not enough to see a player thrive in the hustle and bustle of the physical Scottish top-flight, however. Hatate brings grit as well as guile, and was outstanding in Postecoglou’s high-pressing system.
Fortunately, the £3 million-rated Amane, who was scouted by Celtic during last week’s Europa League defeat to Qarabag, possesses his fair share of physical attributes too (Football Scotland). He even tends to line up in the left-sided central midfield role that Hatate has made his own in Scotland.
Can Rodgers sign another Reo Hatate?
“In the last two years, I have also worked a lot on my running strength and box-to-box game,” he adds.
“Romeo is a dynamic two-way midfielder who, despite his age, showed great maturity,” sporting director Martin Ericsson said. “(Amane makes) many good and wise decisions in his game.
“We hope that he will be able to develop into a really good player with us.”
Now 20, and with two years at Hacken under his belt, Amane has lived up that early promise, ensuring that Ericsson’s confidence was not misplaced. He now looks ready to make the next step in his career.
And that ‘next step’ could take him to a Celtic side looking to put a decade-worst run of form behind them in Reo Hatate’s absence.
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