Celtic transfer viewed as January ‘opportunity’ for ‘unhappy’ star

Celtic will have the ‘opportunity to cash in’ on Daizen Maeda in the January transfer as Everton are looking to sign the forward, according to a report.

The Japan international is facing an uncertain future at Parkhead, having requested a transfer away from Celtic in the summer. Maeda was fielding Premier League interest and wanted to take the opportunity.

Aged 28, Maeda is aware that the time to make a move to a top European league is running out, and it is an opportunity that he does not want to pass up. However, Celtic were unable to grant him his wish in the summer as they failed to source an adequate replacement.

The player made no secret of the fact that he was disappointed with the club when he revealed his desire to leave in September and added that he pushed “until the last day” to make it happen.

“I received an offer,” he said. “I had been telling the club that I wanted to take the next step, but Celtic hadn’t been able to strengthen their squad properly, so in the end, they told me they couldn’t let me go… I really asked Celtic until the last day, but it didn’t happen.”

Maeda to leave in January

Transfer insider Fabrizio Romano revealed this week that a January exit is a distinct possibility for Maeda, but he refused to make any guarantees given that Celtic have bigger fish to fry at present. They are still in the process of appointing a new head coach, with Wilfried Nancy the favourite to take over.

Brentford were linked with the Hoops striker in the summer. In January, Everton may be the ones knocking on his door, according to Football Insider. Although Celtic would be loath to lose a star player like Maeda, journalist Pete O’Rourke believes that it is also an opportunity.

“There is an opportunity for Celtic to cash in on Daizen Maeda,” he is quoted as saying. “He’s definitely not been at his best this season. He’s probably been a bit distracted by all that transfer speculation over the summer, maybe a bit disappointed that he didn’t get his move away in the summer transfer window, which he hoped for.

“For Celtic right now, I don’t think they can afford to let him go without bringing in a replacement first and foremost. He’s obviously a player who is maybe a bit unhappy with his situation right now.

“He’s under contract until 2027. If there is interest in Maeda in the January window, it’s maybe something Celtic will look at to allow the player to move and get the move that he wished he got in the summer.”

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