Celtic transfer update as Bernardo and Hatate attract interest

Despite struggling to nail down a starting place under Brendan Rodgers, Wilfried Nancy and Martin O’Neill the Scottish champions rejected an approach to sign Bernardo for the second half of the season from an unnamed Danish side.  

Engaged in a late push to secure new faces before Monday’s transfer deadline the Scottish champions are reluctant to let players leave without signing replacements. Victory over Utrecht tomorrow night could also secure a place in the last 16 play-offs of the Europa League.  

After 46 appearances for the club in all competitions, Bernardo was keen to  explore the opportunity of more first team starts elsewhere. The Danish club in question have since signed another midfielder and are understood to have ended their interest.  

Japanese midfielder Reo Hatate is also attracting attention from England and overseas. After an underwhelming window, Celtic have secured two new faces in full-back Julian Araujo and striker Tamas Cvancara and want more in before they seriously consider any interest in established first team players.  

Fringe striker Shin Yamada has gone out on loan to German second division outfit Preussen Munster, with Martin O’Neill keen to add more firepower.  

Bodo/Glimt’s Kasper Hogh is a player Celtic are keen on. Victory over Atletico Madrid in Spain would secure qualification for the Champions League play-off stage for the Norwegian underdogs and managing director Frode Thomassen insists the club have no need to sell, but will listen to offers. 

Read more:

• Martin O'Neill's Celtic transfer latest with 'lots of names' being worked on
• Celtic star underlines the 'importance' of Europe, makes post-Utrecht prediction
• Bodo/Glimt chief addresses Celtic transfer interest in 'leading star' Kasper Hogh

Speaking on the the GiveMeSport 'Market Madness podcast, Thomassen said: “We don’t have to sell anyone but if the offer is good and the player would like to go of course we will judge it and see. 

“I think Kasper enjoys playing in Bodo but we will see. Our focus right now is on Madrid. We never comment on links.  

"There are two big ways in football to earn money. One of them is performance on the pitch and one is to sell players. For us it has been important to focus on the performance part and having a strong team. Our main goal has not been to develop players to sell them. At the moment we are a good team. 

“From the outside people see the players when they play. Kasper was the top scorer in the Europa League when we made a semi-final last spring but he is a really good footballer and a really good striker. 

"But as a person he is quite special. A good team mate who carries good values and he is one of the players - when the culture is very important for the club you want the right people on the pitch and in the staff - it is essential, and Kasper is a leading star for that.” 

Also wanted by Norwich City, Philippe Clement’s side have tendered a package worth £7million, including add ons.

Unsettled Nice striker Terem Moffi is another option. Porto and Besiktas are also keen on a deal to land the Nigerian international on loan. 

Sifting his way through a number of options O’Neill and assistant Shaun Maloney have outlined the need for sided central defender, a right winger and, if the opportunity comes up, a defensive midfielder with directors. 

"We can get people in, and numbers in,” said O’Neill ahead of the meeting with Utrecht.  “Whether that improves the squad or not is a different thing. We're trying to get as much quality as we can. We do need both.”