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Published Sep 8, 2026, 7:15 AM GMT+1
Daniel is an experienced football writer and editor with more than a decade of experience covering the professional game, specialising in the Championship, Football League and Scottish football, alongside in-depth coverage of Norwich City, Celtic and Rangers.
A journalist since 2015, Daniel began his career writing for Fresh Press before progressing into a full-time writing and editing role, producing club-focused coverage for Read Norwich, Read Celtic, Read Liverpool and Read Arsenal. He later spent almost a year with Liverpool-based outlet Anfield Watch, where his work included conducting and transcribing interviews with figures including Liverpool goalkeeping coach John Achterberg, former Wycombe striker Adebayo Akinfenwa and journalist Fabrizio Romano.
Daniel has worked with Snack Media (now Valnet) since 2021, contributing to Football FanCast as both a writer and editor. His work focuses particularly on player analysis, transfer insight and original football features, combining detailed knowledge of the game with research-driven assessment of players, clubs and potential moves.
His specialist knowledge of Norwich City and the Football League has also seen him contribute to BBC Norfolk and assist DAZN with research for commentary broadcasts. As a Norwich City season-ticket holder, Daniel brings a level of first-hand knowledge of the club and its players that complements his wider expertise across the Championship and EFL. His Norwich coverage has also featured in publications including the Coventry Telegraph and Liverpool Echo.
Alongside his Football League expertise, Daniel has covered Celtic and Rangers extensively, developing a strong understanding of Scottish football. His work gives readers informed transfer assessment, detailed player analysis and authoritative insight into clubs and competitions he has spent years following and reporting on.
Celtic moved on from one of their longest-serving players at the end of the transfer window when they opted to cash in on central midfielder Reo Hatate.
The Japan international was sold to English Championship side Burnley for a fee of around £6.5m, after more than four years as a first-team player for the Hoops.
He joined the Scottish Premiership giants from Kawasaki Frontale for a fee of £1.4m in January 2022, bolstering then-manager Ange Postecoglou's ranks in midfield.
The 28-year-old midfielder racked up 33 goals and 31 assists in 191 appearances for the club in all competitions, yet the feeling around his move was not one of disappointment.
Why Reo Hatate fell out of favour at Celtic
Hatate was once a star in the middle of the park for Postecoglou and, later, Brendan Rodgers, offering goals and creativitiy in the middle of the park for the Hoops.
In the 2024/25 campaign, for example, the Japanese star delivered ten goals and four assists in 37 appearances in the Premiership for Rodgers to help his side to win the title.
However, the issue that Hatate had was that once the goals and assists dried up, the midfielder's lack of physicality and mobility was exposed under Martin O'Neill last season.
|
Appearances |
30 |
|
Goals |
2 |
|
Assists |
2 |
|
Tackles per game |
0.7 |
|
Interceptions per game |
0.3 |
|
Duels won per game |
1.8 |
|
Ground duel success rate |
42% |
|
Aerial duels success rate |
33% |
The Japan international lost the majority of his duels on the deck and in the air, whilst averaging fewer than one tackle and one interception per game, which led to him losing his place in the team.
Hatate was an unused substitute in five of his last eight matchday squad appearances in the Premiership, and only started two of the club's last ten league games prior to his move to Burnley.
His regression at Parkhead illustrates how important it is for midfielders to offer quality off the ball to ensure that they do not become obsolete if their attacking output declines.
How Celtic have landed an elite-level version of Hatate
The Hoops went into the summer knowing that Arne Engels and Hatate could leave the club, which they went on to do, and dipped into the market to bolster their ranks in that area of the pitch.
One of the signings made to improve the squad was the addition of central midfielder Mika Baur from Paderborn for a fee of around £7m, making him the third-most expensive deal of the window.
Kasper Hogh, who cost in excess of £11m, and Haissem Hassan, who joined in a deal worth up to £9m, both cost more than the midfielder and have had inconsistent starts to life at Parkhead.
The Danish striker, who is currently injured, has failed to score in four of his five appearances and the Egypt international is yet to register a goal contribution for the Hoops.
Baur, meanwhile, has hit the ground running as an impressive figure in the middle of the park for O'Neill's side, and already looks like an elite-level version of Hatate in that position.
The 22-year-old talent has a similar style of play to the Japan international in possession, as he is excellent at taking the ball in and passing forward efficiently, but he has far superior defensive capabilities.
|
Appearances |
3 |
|
Key passes per game |
2.3 |
|
Assists |
|
|
Tackles per game |
2.3 |
|
Interceptions per game |
1.0 |
|
Dribbled past per game |
0.3x |
|
Duels won per game |
3.7 |
|
Ground duel success rate |
53% |
|
Aerial duel success rate |
50% |
Baur is currently averaging 3.3 tackles and interceptions per game and has won the majority of his duels, after Hatate averaged 1.0 tackles and interceptions per match last term.
The German maestro, who has completed 90% of his attempted passes in the Premiership, showcased his quality on and off the ball in the 2-1 win over St Mirren, as he won six of his ten duels and created four chances for his teammates.
He has shown that he can offer technical quality as a passer, creativity, mobility, physicality, and defensive awareness in midfield, making him a complete midfielder for O'Neill and Celtic.
Baur has yet to show that he can score goals, as Hatate did in his prime at Parkhead, but has delivered creativity and reliable passing, whilst already looking significantly better than the £6.5m-rated star out of possession.
REUTERS/Leonhard FoegerWhilst Hatate fell down the pecking order at Paradise because of his struggles off the ball, the German star will still have plenty to offer to the team if his technical or attacking output drops off because of the physical qualities that he possesses.
Therefore, Celtic have hit the jackpot with the signing of the former Parderborn ace because he is a young midfielder who looks like the complete package already, joining as an upgrade on the Japan international without being as expensive as Hogh or Hassan.
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