Hatate and Kuhn fired ominous Celtic message as Kyogo case study shows the reality of transfer gamble

Daily Record

5 days ago

Parkhead legend Paul Lambert isn't convinced now is the right time for the pair to leave
Paul Lambert has told Nicolas Kuhn and Reo Hatate to think twice before chasing big-money moves - because the grass isn't always greener.
In-demand winger Kuhn has been heavily linked with a £15million switch to RB Leipzig, while Italian outfit Como have also shown interest in the German wide man.
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Midfielder Hatate, meanwhile, has admirers in Serie A with Udinese weighing up a summer swoop.
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But while the duo are hot property, Celtic legend Lambert isn't convinced either has done enough to earn a blockbuster transfer just yet.
On Kuhn's future, he told Record Sport: "As a Celtic player, you have to be consistent. You need to hit eight out of 10s every week, more or less.
"And when you don't do it, then you'll probably hear it from the supporters.
"He was brilliant in the first half of the season, but the season doesn't last half a year. It's a year, so you've got to perform consistently.
"You can't turn around and say, 'I'm only going to play half a year.' If that were the case, then everybody would still be playing.
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"Nobody can dispute that he was really good in the first half of the season - but do it for the full year."
Kuhn looked unstoppable at times last term, bagging 21 goals and 15 assists across all competitions.
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But the 25-year-old's form dipped after the New Year.
Lambert said: "There's no doubting his ability, but he's only done it for 18 months. I think there's more in him.
"Does he have a point to prove? Yeah, I think he and Hatate are both the same.
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"They won't find a higher demand than Celtic to try and get results - that's for sure."
Hatate, 27, is entering his fifth season at Parkhead and has never hidden his desire to test himself in a bigger league.
But the Japan international - who is recovering from a knee injury - splits opinion among the Celtic support.
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Lambert said: "I don't know about him, I'm not sure he's hitting the heights of what he should be hitting.
'Everyone can say they want to play in a top-five league, but you've got to keep proving it.
"I think he's tailed off a bit with consistency in playing for a club like Celtic. I think he needs to get that back into his game.
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"I think he's a decent enough player - but nobody's bigger than the club, that's always the case. The club will always go on.
"If Brendan thinks it's the right decision to move him on or keep him, Brendan will know because he's a top manager.
"My concern for him is that he has to get back to the form that he showed when he first came in."
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Lambert believes both Kuhn and Hatate would be taking a huge gamble by quitting Celtic now - pointing to Kyogo 's struggles at Rennes as a cautionary tale.
He added: 'Celtic are in the driving seat. Celtic as a club are really stable. They are really focused to win and do well in Europe again.
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'They're still under contract for a while yet, so Celtic hold the ace cards and can demand as much or as little as they want.
'Celtic have given them a platform to go and perform, so the club's been great with them. They have to repay the club as they have done for a certain period of time - but you've got to give more than just that.
'If Kuhn goes to Leipzig... yes, he knows the native language, but he might go to Leipzig and not get a game, just like Kyogo in France. So I think you've got to be careful what you wish for. I really do.
'These two lads are playing regularly at Celtic. They are playing Champions League football where the eyes of the world are on you – and if you perform there, then you make a bigger mark than anything.
'So I think you've got to be careful what you wish for at times.'