Brendan Rodgers told who his ‘number one’ striker is right now as transfer rumours swirl

Add as preferred source on Google

Celtic fans will finally get their wish this summer because the club’s striker situation is expected to be sorted.

Kyogo Furuhashi left in January, but he wasn’t replaced, as Celtic and Brendan Rodgers continued about their business, including winning the Premiership title.

In truth, the goals continued to flow because Daizen Maeda went goal crazy, as he became the main centre-forward, as well as Adam Idah contributing and Johnny Kenny being handed his debut.

But now, with the 2025 summer transfer window wide open, Celtic have the chance to dip into the market and enhance their forward line.

Lots of rumours have been swirling about who will be the main guy next season, but perhaps he is staring at Rodgers right in the face.

• READ MORE: Two Celtic stars see transfer market values soar but Auston Trusty handed brutal downgrade

Daizen Maeda is Celtic’s ‘number one’ striker

There is talk that Celtic will sign Callum Osmand from Fulham, but he is a teenager who is yet to make his senior debut.

Yes, the powers that be at Parkhead have gone down this road before, and it has worked a treat – Moussa Dembele.

But Gordon Dalziel thinks Celtic’s answer to a striker is Maeda, as he feels he is the ‘number one’, as he told Clyde 1 Superscoreboard.

“I think, Maeda, for me, just now, through the middle is absolutely terrific,” said Dalziel. “He won Player of the Year, rightly so.

“There is always that possibility that he could go back and play on the left-hand side if they get centre-forwards in.

“But, right now, if you look at Celtic’s squad, and you were picking the team tomorrow, Maeda is your number one centre-forward.

“I think he is brilliant through the middle. I think he puts the fear of death into defenders. He can get his goals. He scored a lot of goals last season. Won Player of the Year.”

Maeda’s numbers as a striker during the 2024/25 season

Before anything happens, Celtic need to keep Maeda on board because there is already noise around his name this summer.

That’s understandable because he has been so good, and his record as a centre-forward alone is pretty special.

Yes, that striker needs to come in, but given Maeda’s numbers as a number nine, when the new season starts, he still has to be considered as a starter for that role.