Striker having his ‘best season ever’ told transfer to Celtic simply ‘isn’t going to happen’

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The goals have flowed in for Celtic in 2025.

This is despite Kyogo Furuhashi leaving Celtic during the January transfer window, and then, the club not replacing him.

Daizen Maeda’s crazy performances have played a huge part in his fellow countryman not being missed, but that doesn’t mean Celtic won’t look for a striker when the summer transfer window re-opens.

It’s just a case of which road the 2024/25 Premiership champions will go down, especially the few clouds that are hanging above the club’s head heading into the summer and next season.

From the revamped Champions League format, which means more games in Europe’s elite competition, and room for progression, to Celtic needing to enter the tournament via qualifiers.

As well as talk around Brendan Rodgers’ current contract, and whether or not he will sign a new deal, as you suspect, what will be delivered to him via the transfer market will play a huge part in his next call.

• READ MORE: Celtic could reap the rewards from former flop amid transfer interest, they could land millions

Dundee’s Simon Murray told transfer to Celtic ‘won’t happen’

One man who has been racking up the goals in Scotland’s top-flight this season has been Simon Murray of Dundee.

The 33-year-old has been nominated for Scotland’s PFA Player of the Year, alongside Maeda, Callum McGregor and Nicolas Kuhn.

But despite McGregor lauding Murray and sharing that he has voted for him as his PFA Player of the Year, Gordon Dalziel told Clyde1 Superscoreboard that a move to Celtic Park isn’t going to happen.

“Age, simple as that,” responded Dalziel on why Celtic wouldn’t sign Murray. “He is 33. That’s not Celtic’s model.

“Come off the bench? I totally agree with that, but that’s not the way forward. Simon Murray is probably having his best season ever in football. He has been absolutely brilliant for Dundee. He deserves all the pats on the back that he is getting. He deserves to be in that nomination for (Player of the Year).

“I can make a brilliant case for him being second, because Maeda will certainly win it. But I think Simon Murray, this season, has held Dundee together. I think Dundee would have real problems without him.

“But he is a team player. We go back to the old cliché, I used to say it, he is a manager’s dream. He goes out there, he plays for the team, he is unselfish, banged his goals in this season, so he deserves to be there.

“Simon Murray, look, we have praised him. He will be nowhere near Celtic’s radar. Let’s be honest. I am delighted that supporters from other clubs are recognising the job that he has done – but to take that leap to Celtic isn’t going to happen.”

Murray’s stats compared to Celtic duo Adam Idah and Daizen Maeda

Rodgers has spoken about wanting three strikers, and is Murray good enough to be a third striker for the champions? Yes.

But, at the end of the day, that’s what Celtic are not looking for. They still need to replace Kyogo, despite Maeda’s blistering form.

And whilst Celtic have gone down the road of bringing experienced goalkeepers to the club, with no sell-on value, you can’t do the same with a striker.