Story thread · 10 reports / 3 sources

Burnley staged outrageous deadline day hijack with player already travelling to join rivals

talksport.com · 12dShare

New Burnley signing Reo Hatate was travelling to join Blackburn Rovers when the Clarets hijacked the deadline day deal. talkSPORT has learned an agreement between Celtic and Blackburn was in place to loan the 28-year-old midfielder before Burnley swooped in under the noses of their fiercest rivals. Celtic’s Hatate joined Burnley after agreeing to sign for rivals Blackburn Kenny Ramsay Hatate was given permission to travel and looked set to link up with compatriots Yuki Ohashi and Ryoya Morishita at Ewood Park. Blackburn were under the impression that, even by late afternoon, the deal would go through for the Japan international. Yet while en route to undergo a Rovers medical, and with only hours left on deadline day, Burnley moved in to agree a fee with Celtic, with the Scottish champions favouring a permanent exit. The Clarets have paid around £6.5million plus add-ons for Hatate and he has signed a three-year contract at the club. In a fortunate coincidence, Hatate was already heading

First report: Reo Hatate heading for Celtic exit after Sunday update — sports.yahoo.com, 15d