Celtic have already seen a couple of their starters leave the club this summer. Greg Taylor departed with his contract running out in order to join PAOK in Greece. On the other hand, Nicolas Kuhn was linked with clubs like RB Leipzig and Newcastle United but ultimately ended up joining ambitious Italian Serie A club Como FC.
Celtic fans will be hoping that this is the end of the list when it comes to starters leaving Parkhead this summer. But it looks like a Premier League club have their sights set on another one of them, and quietly established contact as well.
As reported by TEAMtalk, Daizen Maeda’s representatives have been in discussions with Brentford. The Bees are pushing to secure his signature.
Maeda was the best player in Scottish football last season, scoring 33 goals and providing a further 12 assists. Naturally, that has caught the eye of clubs around Europe. While Brentford seem to be keen on signing him, Celtic appear to be trying to agree a contract extension with the Japanese international in order to put the exit rumours to bed for at least the immediate future.
Premier League club quietly open talks to sign Celtic starter
Brentford are going through a tough summer transfer window. Not only have they bid farewell to long-time manager Thomas Frank but several key players have departed alongside him as well and more could follow.
Naturally, Brentford must be keen to rebuild things as soon as possible. But that is not Celtic's problem and after sanctioning Kuhn's exit earlier in the summer, they should not entertain any offers for Maeda.
Brendan Rodgers has only a year left on his contract and Celtic need to convince him that Parkhead is the place to be moving forward as well. Parting ways with their two best players from last season in the same summer transfer window might not be the message that the Northern Irishman needs to be sent.