Chris Sutton has named ONE Celtic star irreplaceable and insists they must resist cashing in.
The Hoops are set for another crack at the Champions League proper after winning the Scottish Premiership title for the second successive season. Ange Postecoglou's men have also lifted the League Cup and have just Inverness standing in the way of themselves and a domestic Treble with the Scottish Cup Final in early June.
One key player in that success and going forward to make any splash on the European stage is Reo Hatate. Interest is mounting in the Hoops star from down south and abroad and he would command a huge fee to prize him away from the Scottish champions. But Sutton has warned they must resist any temptations as Postecoglou needs the midfielder on board to have any chance of competing against Europe's elite.
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Speaking on the Record Celtic Podcast, Sutton said: "It will be interesting in the summer with Ange Postecoglou talking about the prospect of some of the bigger players being sold and others coming in. It’s been pretty seamless so far in terms of players coming in but at some point you might hit the buffers. It’s about what happens next. For me, it’s about the Champions League and whether Celtic can compete.
“First of all they need to hold on to the manager, which is really one to watch as he’ll be sought after and courted. You want Ange Postecoglou to stay and he’ll be even more determined to make his mark in Europe. It will be interesting in terms of who comes and goes.
“I think Reo Hatate is irreplaceable, in the way Celtic play. They won’t have the time to get players up to speed as the Champions League still comes around pretty quickly.
“There are certain players who Celtic just can’t do without and they really need to hang on to if they are to match the ambition of the supporters, and that’s to give themselves the best possible chance of competing in the Champions League. Even with the players they have it will be difficult, but they have to give themselves the best chance.
"Celtic will need to hold on to their big guns and have them ready to be firing to have the best possible chance."
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