Celtic told to accept Daizen Maeda offer after confirmed news
Celtic have been told that they should sell star attacker Daizen Maeda in January in order to maximise value.
Maeda has admitted that he wanted a move away from Celtic in the summer, but the club blocked his potential transfer.
The Hoops sold Adam Idah to Swansea, and have still failed to properly replace Kyogo Furuhashi, meaning the 27-year-old is likely to be forced into an unnatural striker position once again.
Celtic did confirm the addition of Kelechi Iheanacho on a free transfer, but supporters are still desperate for the club to reject any offers for Maeda in January.
However, Aberdeen’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Pittodrie between 2000 and 2004, had lengthy spells as the chief of Everton and Aston Villa and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes it would make sense for the Glasgow giants to cash in on the Japanese international when the window reopens.
Celtic will receive ‘decent’ Maeda bid in January
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness insisted that Celtic will receive a very decent bid for Maeda in January if he performs well in the first half of the season.
The versatile attacker is yet to find the net for Brendan Rodgers’ side in the league this term, but has picked up two assists.
Wyness added that if Celtic are going to sell Maeda, then it makes most sense to offload him in January, as that is when they will get maximum value for him.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “He’ll be a case of one that they’ll want to try and keep at least until the end of the season. But it could be that there’s an offer for him.
“Look, he’s a quality player, he’s a talent, and depending on how he does at the start of this season, then I think that January could well be a time for him to go. I think Celtic would like to let him go in the summer if at all.
“There’s no doubt his comments have been quite clear that he’s disappointed he couldn’t go. But Celtic, not bringing anyone in, felt as though they had to keep those they already had. So I think that was the decision that the board has made, and it’s not great when you’ve got that dissatisfaction.
“He didn’t go quite as far as we’ve seen with other players in England, with player power this summer, but nevertheless he made it quite clear in his own way that he’s unhappy. That’s something they’re going to have to handle.
“If he has a good start to the season, bangs them in, then I expect a decent bid for him because everybody will want strikers in January. That’s when you can get maximum value for them as well. So if Celtic are going to sell, that would make the most sense for me to offload him in January.”
Brendan Rodgers could quit Celtic
Meanwhile, Rodgers could quit Celtic upon the expiry of his contract next year amid growing unrest behind the scenes at Parkhead, sources have told Football Insider.
Hoops fans have begun to express their frustrations towards the board after an underwhelming transfer window.
This comes after Football Insider revealed on 2 September that Rodgers is unhappy with the Celtic board due to their lack of urgency or clear recruitment plan.
There is a feeling that the Scot would jump at the opportunity to move away from the Glasgow giants and start afresh at a new club.
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