Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has indicated that midfielder Reo Hatate could still feature for the club this season, contingent on him remaining at Parkhead beyond the current transfer window.
Hatate has seen his game time diminish this term, remaining an unused substitute in Celtic's initial three competitive fixtures. The arrival of Mika Baur has further complicated his path back into the starting lineup. Greek club Panathinaikos has reportedly shown interest in signing the Japanese midfielder.
O'Neill stated that while there have been "tentative enquiries," no offers beneficial to either the player or the club have yet been received. "Nothing has come up that is beneficial to him or the football club. But that might change," O'Neill said. "If it did not change, I would be happy. Reo is a fine footballer. He has dropped down the pecking order at this moment. But if he could recapture the form he showed two seasons ago he would still be an asset."
The manager also referenced Paulo Bernardo's loan move to another club, explaining it was due to the player's desire for regular game time rather than being pushed out. "Any player who feels as if they are being squeezed and they want to play and they feel they are not going to play then playing is the most important thing," O'Neill explained.
Regarding winger Michel-Ange Balikwisha, who has not played since January, O'Neill noted that while there has been interest, the player is currently disinclined to move. "I am hoping that at some stage or another if nothing materialises, he would get opportunities. But I cannot promise that," O'Neill commented.
Separately, O'Neill expressed concerns about Celtic's upcoming Europa League playoff opponent, LASK, drawing parallels to a past difficult tie against Basel in 2002. "I have experienced it. Ajax was a real high and then there was the real low of Basel," he recalled. "They were a very fine side Basel, as they proved in the subsequent years, knocking Manchester United out and so on. They could play and I have the same concerns about LASK. The reports have come in that they are pretty strong. They won the Austrian double last season after coming from behind."
O'Neill also discussed tactical flexibility, mentioning the potential to utilize new signings like Haissem Hassan on the right wing and Camilo Duran in a role just off the center forward. "It's about looking at systems we want to play. We've been pretty rigid in 4-3-3 but we should be able to change," he said. "It's far better to have the options. Of course it is."