‘Celtic unable to cash in on major Daizen Maeda bids’
Celtic will be faced with hefty transfer offers for Daizen Maeda in the near-future but won’t be able to accept them, Ross McCormack has stated.
The Japan international has quickly become Rodgers’ most important attacking star after the departure of Kyogo Furuhashi, having joined Rennes during the winter transfer window.
With 19 goal contributions in the Scottish Premiership, Maeda is the Hoops’ most influential forward, with Nicolas-Gerrit Kuhn next with 17 and Arne Engels with 14.
The striker even proved himself against European opposition, netting against Bayern Munich before being knocked out of the competition, and Rodgers has admitted that he would be surprised if no interest emerges.
The Hoops eventually sold Furuhashi for £10million when Rennes came knocking in January [Sky Sports], and with many believing that Maeda holds even more talent, McCormack believes the club will be forced to turn down several offers this summer.
Daizen Maeda’s performances putting striker on radars away from Celtic
Featuring on the Open Goal podcast [11 March], the question was posed whether the Hoops will receive offers for their Japanese star in the summer.
McCormack replied: “There’s got to be. If you’re getting £10m for Kyogo, and everyone seems to be singing off the same hymn sheet that Maeda’s a better striker… I think yes, there will be big offers. Will they take it? I’m not sure they can.”
Brendan Rodgers to build stronger Celtic squad instead of sell stars
Football Insider verdict
Ally McCoist told Football Insider that Rodgers could be tempted to leave Celtic again, but not until he has another chance at Champions League football, and he needs a stronger squad for that.
The board has already been urged to back their manager in the summer transfer window, adding to the likes of Jeffrey Schlupp and the soon-to-arrive Kieran Tierney from Arsenal.
| Celtic’s Champions League league phase results |
| Celtic 5-1 Slovan Bratislava |
| Borussia Dortmund 7-1 Celtic |
| Atalanta 0-0 Celtic |
| Celtic 3-1 RB Leipzig |
| Celtic 1-1 Club Brugge |
| Dinamo Zagreb 0-0 Celtic |
| Celtic 1-0 Young Boys |
| Aston Villa 4-2 Celtic |
Football Insider revealed that Celtic are monitoring Motherwell star Lennon Miller ahead of the next window, with the 18-year-old attracting plenty of interest at Motherwell.
If Rodgers can add the exact type of players he believes will take the squad to the next level, there is no reason why the manager would want to leave, or even let any of his current stars leave.