(Credit: Imago)

Pete O'Rourke, Transfer Correspondent

Tue 3 March 2026 9:17, UK

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Celtic are preparing to cash in on striker Daizen Maeda as he enters the final year of his contract this summer, sources have told Football Insider.

The Bhoys are preparing to accept offers for the 28-year-old if they come in, with the club hierarchy now of the feeling that there is “no chance” that he will sign a new contract.

The Japan international is understood to be keen to move away from Celtic Park and explore a new challenge, and sources have indicated that the club are willing to sanction that, with a significant squad turnover looking increasingly likely this summer.

Maeda has not hit his best form for the Glasgow giants so far this season, and has just seven goals and five assists in the Scottish Premiership at the moment, with a Celtic transfer exit now on the cards.

Daizen Maeda to finally get the exit that he wants

Football Insider revealed earlier in the season that Maeda was keen on the idea of a potential move to the Premier League, as it began to look increasingly likely that he would turn his back on Celtic.

The frontman was keen to leave the club in last summer’s transfer window, but Brendan Rodgers made it clear that he was too important to his project for a sale to be sanctioned.

Maeda was also linked with an exit in the January window, but with Martin O’Neill’s men desperately chasing Hearts and Rangers in a bid to retain their league title, he was not sold then either.

However, with the prospect of potentially losing the striker on a free transfer now beginning to loom on the horizon, Celtic have decided that they will cash in on him this summer, and he will finally get the exit that he has chased for so long.

Maeda was once a hero in the eyes of the Bhoys’ fanbase, but his inconsistent performances this term have prompted plenty of criticism in recent weeks, with the supporters now happy to see the back of him.

All parties appear keen to part ways in the summer, and Celtic will now turn their attention towards trying to secure as big a fee as possible for the outgoing star.

Celtic to land Kasper Hogh as Maeda’s replacement?

Football Insider revealed last week that Celtic are likely to be priced out of a move for Bodo/Glimt striker Kasper Hogh after his exploits in the Champions League.

The Bhoys were heavily linked with a move for the Norwegian hitman in January, and could have potentially been lining him up to become their long-term replacement for Maeda.

Hogh has hit 22 goals in all competitions this season, including five in Bodo/Glimt’s stunning Champions League campaign, which saw them beat Inter Milan to progress to the Round of 16 last week.

That is set to spark a significant spike in his valuation this summer, which is expected to leave Celtic in the dust in the race for his signature, even if they were to secure Champions League football themselves.