Daizen Maeda is coming off the best season of his career, having scored 33 goals and provided 12 assists in 51 appearances despite playing the majority of his football on the wing. If you have been a Celtic fan for any considerable length of time, you know that that kind of form often means one thing. A summer exit.
Fans will be hoping that Maeda stays at Celtic for as long as possible. But with teams around Europe lining up, there is a very real possibility that the club's transfer valuation will be met by someone.
Fenerbahce have been linked with Maeda, with Jose Mourinho rumoured to be keen to train him. Tottenham Hotspur have been suggested as a possible destination as well even though Ange Postecoglou was sacked by the club recently.
Now, Brentford's name has been added to the mix with Celtic being told that Maeda is more likely to leave than Kuhn. As reported by 67 Hail Hail, Graeme Bailey said about the future of the Jaopanese international:
"He is on Brentford’s radar. Tottenham have looked at Maeda as well at points. There’s an awful lot of teams who have looked at Maeda but just haven’t pulled the trigger.
“I do think that he’s more likely to go than Nicolas Kuhn, from what I’m told. Kuhn had a good start, but he tailed off a little bit. Obviously Celtic are not going to let them both go.
“From what I understand, it’s more likely Maeda leaves, and I think he is looking at it.
“He’s got some big clubs after him, Fenerbahce obviously being one. I think the Saudi Pro League enquired as well, he was on their long list. But there is Premier League interest there in Maeda."
Celtic offered very worrying Daizen Maeda exit news
So, it looks like interest is growing in Maeda and understandably so. It is not just his goals and assists that make him special. The Japanese forward is heralded for his pressing as well, capable of keeping up pressure on the opposition defenders for the entirety of the game and being his team's first line of defence.
That is an aspect of Maeda's game that first saw him gain popularity, even when his output in front of goal had been hit-and-miss. Now that he has improved in terms of efficiency, a move away from the Scottish Premiership might be only a matter of time.
In many ways, Maeda is irreplaceable. There are not too many players with his attributes. So, if he did choose to leave Celtic, they'd have a tough time bringing in someone of a similar profile.
One can only hope that Maeda has learned from how things have turned for the likes of Kyogo, Jota and Matt O'Riley after leaving Celtic in big-money moves. Transfer fees are no guarantee that he will get consistent playing time, wherever he ends up. And does he want to take such a risk right before the World Cup? It might be more sensible to stay at Parkhead for another year.