Journalist Michael Gannon has claimed that a number of Celtic players are good enough to make the move to the Premier League.
With club football taking a break to allow the winter World Cup to take place, the Bhoys took the opportunity to maintain fitness and spread the global brand with a trip to Australia.
Indeed, Celtic took on English outfit Everton earlier this week and held their opposition to a 0-0 draw, before then ultimately losing the game on penalties.
However, when speaking about the efforts of the players on the pitch, Gannon singled out a handful who he believed could make it in the English top flight should the opportunity arrive in the future.
Indeed, in a report for the Daily Record, he named Jota, Matt O’Riley, Reo Hatate, and Sead Haksabanovic as four men who could do a job in the Premier League.
Do you think all four could make it in the Premier League?
Yes
No
He wrote: “It’s always hard to properly judge in bounce games but this was an interesting encounter against a team with ambitions to be competing at the top end in England.
“On this evidence, Celtic have a good few players who could cut it at that level. Jota is more than capable and Scot Nathan Patterson won’t come up against many tougher opponents on a weekly basis in the EPL.
“Matt O’Riley and Reo Hatate world also stroll it while Sead Haksabanovic is another who wouldn’t look out of place at that level.
“The money down south makes it the prime market for Celtic to punt players and these guys are top assets already.
“Don’t be surprised if they get the chance to prove their Premier League class in the near future.”
TIF thoughts on Celtic…
Jota certainly is a high-calibre player, having come through the Benfica academy, while also scoring a freekick against Real Madrid in the Champions League recently.
Haksabanovic is new to Celtic but did play for West Ham United on two occasions as a youngster and so clearly has the ability to potentially develop into a player at that level.
Only Jota and Carl Starfelt have managed a better averaged WhoScored match rating in the SPFL this season than O’Riley, so it’s obvious how important he is already for the Bhoys. Still just 21, he could be a top player in the future.
Hatate has also impressed in the Champions League this season, with journalist Sacha Pisani claiming he didn’t look out of place’ against Real Madrid.
Evidently, all four are top talents already – while also being under the age of 24 – so it will be interesting to see how they develop in the coming years.