Daizen Maeda was the best player in Scotland last season. He scored 33 goals for Celtic despite playing the majority of the campaign on the wing. It was only after the departure of Kyogo in the summer that he was moved to a central forward position, and he shone in that role. Of course, after 45 goal contributions in 51 games, he has been linked with a move away from Parkhead this summer.
Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce were being linked with a move for Maeda recently but those rumours have fizzled away in recent days. Tottenham Hotspur are believed to be keeping an eye on him as well despite sacking Ange Postecoglou.
On the other hand, Celtic will be hoping to keep him at the club for as long as possible. In fact, they are believed to be looking to hand him a contract extension. But for that, they might need to give Maeda some assurances first.
As reported by The Fitbaw Gospel, Maeda has told Celtic that he needs a guarantee that he will be given a fair shot at being the first-choice striker next season before he resumes talks on a new deal. He believes that his best chance of making Japan's 2026 World Cup squad is by making an impact through the middle. The Japanese now sees his main position as centre forward and will only commit longer term if he knows that’s the role in which he will be played more often than not.
Daizen Maeda tells Celtic he'll sign extension on one condition
Maeda is believed to still be open to the idea of playing as a winger when the team need him there. But moving forward, it looks like he wants to be the club's first-choice striker.
It is not hard to understand why that might be the case. He scored 33 goals last season. It is hard to argue with that. And if not for a brief bad spell of form at the end of the campaign, the 40-goal mark was not out of reach.
If Celtic are also viewing Maeda as the first-choice number 9 moving forward, what would that mean for the future of Adam Idah at the club? He scored 20 goals last season as well, despite mostly being used as a cover option. Surely Celtic did not shell out nearly £10 million to sign someone who will be an impact substitute.