‘Incredible’ Celtic star pushing to leave with Brendan Rodgers now facing selection headache
Brendan Rodgers has been left in a bind after Daizen Maeda’s admission that he wanted to leave Celtic in the summer transfer window, sources have told Football Insider.
Celtic’s hierarchy have come under fire after a disappointing summer of business, and this criticism was taken to new heights after Maeda’s claims that his request for a move away from Celtic was blocked.
As I revealed on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Maeda’s public expression of his wish to leave Parkhead has given Rodgers an “unwanted headache” ahead of the January window.
Football Insider revealed on 8 September that Celtic will not allow Maeda to leave in January, but that won’t deter interest in the Japanese international and creates a difficult situation for Rodgers to handle.
Alan Hutton described Maeda as “genuinely incredible” to The Celtic Star with the forward on his way to a 33-goal haul and another 12 assists last season, but he may not be a Hoops player for much longer.
Football Insider sources have said that with Maeda unsettled at Parkhead and interest clubs likely to re-enter the race to sign him in January, Celtic cannot afford to lose their star forward after their previous failings in the summer.
Daizen Maeda marked for exit door at Celtic Park
Celtic have been urged to accept offers for Maeda in January with a view to maximising his value, but sources have told Football Insider that this could be disastrous if Celtic fail to adequately replace him.
“It’s an unwanted headache for Brendan Rodgers”, I said on the new Football Insider Inside Track podcast.
“He’s having to deal with a potentially unsettled player – there’s no getting away from that”
“For Maeda to come out publicly and say that he wanted to move in the summer transfer window, but Celtic blocked it in the end, it’s not a great sign.
“If that interest is there in Maeda in the summer transfer window, you would imagine it will probably come back around January.
“However, Celtic can’t really afford to lose Maeda, because they missed out on number of striking targets in the summer transfer window.”
Celtic caught out by Maeda after transfer window disaster
Maeda has spent most of the last 12 months as a makeshift striker for Celtic despite being more comfortable on the left wing, following the departure of his Japanese compatriot Kyogo Furuhashi.
The Scottish giants failed to address this clear lack of centre-forwards in the summer transfer window with Celtic only making the unpopular signing of Kelechi Iheanacho after Adam Idah was sold to Swansea City.
Football Insider has also revealed that Celtic snubbed the opportunity to sign Patrick Bamford after his exit from Leeds, and it’s clear that with Maeda keen to head for pastures new, a lack of proactivity in the market is now coming back to bite.