Celtic star Reo Hatate is a transfer target for Leicester City, according to a report.

The Foxes are back in the big time after their Championship title triumph last season under Enzo Maresca, who has now moved on to Chelsea.

Steve Cooper is the new head coach, and he will guide them into the new English Premier League campaign on Monday, August 19 with a home match against Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham.

They could go into that match with Scottish Premiership ace Hatate in their ranks, according to the Daily Mail.

They state that Leicester are readying a 'big money offer' for the Japanese international.

Hatate, 26, joined the Hoops from Kawasaki Frontale in January 2022 and made an instant impact on the team by scoring against Hearts and Rangers. He has 16 goals in 87 matches to his name.

He suffered a hugely frustrating time last season, spending much of it on the sidelines due to various injuries. 

Brendan Rodgers will hope to hang onto one of his main players, with the 2024/25 campaign set to get underway this weekend. Kilmarnock are Celtic's first opponents. 

The Parkhead side will be under no pressure to sell, with the player still under contract for another four years.

Were Hatate to move on, then he would join Abdul Fatawa, Bobby Decordova-Reid, Michael Golding and Caleb Okoli as Leicester's new recruits.

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Meanwhile, Rodgers has stated Daizen Maeda and Nicolas Kuhn are set to be fit for Celtic's league curtain-raiser next week.

The Parkhead club kick-off their new Scottish Premiership season on Sunday against Kilmarnock but there had been fears over injuries in pre-season to the wing duo.

However, Rodgers shrugged off the concerns following Celtic's 4-1 win over Chelsea in their final US tour fixture.