Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Aston Villa and England attacker hailed Celtic’s transfer business under Ange Postecoglou.
Hatate, along with Kyogo Furuhashi, Yosuke Ideguchi and Daizen Maeda, have been brought in from the J-League over the past six months.
🇯🇵 Reo Hatate appreciation post 🤩
Directly involved in 4 goals (⚽️2⃣,🅰️2⃣) in his last 2 games 🔥🔥🔥@CelticFC | #UECL pic.twitter.com/vR2UfXGZ7D
— UEFA Europa Conference League (@europacnfleague) February 7, 2022
Postecoglou moved to Parkhead from Yokohoma F. Marinos in the summer where he worked alongside Maeda.
Hatate moved to the Glasgow giants at the beginning of January for a reported £1.4million.
And Agbonlahor has claimed Celtic have grabbed themselves an “absolute bargain” and is now worth at least £4.2million.
He told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley: “I’ll say this, what I’ve got to praise Celtic for is their recruitment.
“Celtic and Rangers don’t have a lot of money. Celtic have gone out and got four Japanese players and two of them, so far, look like absolute bargains.
“I’m sure they’ll be going back to Japan to look for more because they look like really talented players.
“For Hatate to perform like that in his first Old Firm game in such a tense atmosphere was outstanding.
“They were so cheap. Given his performances, Hatate has probably tripled in value already.
“It’s good business from Celtic.”
Hatate has three goals and two assists in six games for Celtic already, including a brace and an assist in the 3-0 win over Rangers last Wednesday (2 February).
The Japan international, 24, signed a four-and-a-half-year deal with the Hoops when he moved to the club last month.
This article was originally posted here