Celtic factor which could determine Daizen Maeda exit in January named by Fabrizio Romano

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It’s fair to say that Daizen Maeda’s Celtic future is in doubt.

This has been the case ever since the forward revealed that he had hoped to leave Celtic in the summer, but didn’t have his move facilitated by the club.

Then-manager Brendan Rodgers expressed sympathy with Maeda over the situation, but the news wasn’t ideal for a support barely getting over a desperately poor summer transfer window.

Maeda was Celtic’s player of the year last season, and whilst he hasn’t quite hit those heights yet this season, he remains one of the side’s most important players for more reasons than one.

Given his desire to move, could he leave the club in January? Fabrizio Romano has provided an update.

Fabrizio Romano gives update on Daizen Maeda’s Celtic future

Maeda had reportedly cleared his belongings from Lennoxtown in preparation to depart in the last week of the summer transfer window.

But it wasn’t to be, and he has since scored three times for the Hoops.

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World-renowned transfer expert Romano has now given an update on the situation, naming the one factor which could be decisive in January.

In his newsletter for Give Me Sport, he was asked the question about whether Maeda could leave Glasgow in January.

He replied: “It’s a possibility yes, but let’s wait for the coach stuff to be sorted first.”

After playing the best football of his career last season under Rodgers, Maeda has often been used as a right-winger under the interim charge of Martin O’Neill.

This is largely due to the form of Sebastian Tounekti and Johnny Kenny on the left wing and up front respectively.

Wilfried Nancy is reportedly still the front-runner for the Hoops job, but reports about the deal have slowed down and O’Neill will seemingly take charge of the Celts’ next fixture against St Miiren.

Every manager would love to have a player with Maeda’s energy in the team, so if the manager is to have a say in whether he stays, the Japan forward could be staying put until next summer at least.

Daizen Maeda and other players who could leave Celtic in January

Maeda looks to be the only regular starter at Celtic who is likely to leave the club in January.

But elsewhere in the squad, there are players who could seek more game time elsewhere – Paulo Bernardo is one of them, having missed out on two of four matchday squads under O’Neill.

Hayato Inamura and Shin Yamada have also barely been seen since being brought to Glasgow from the J-League. A loan move is surely likely for one or both of them.

Yang Hyun-Jun was also on the verge of leaving in the summer, and has featured rarely since. Birmingham City were interested, and could yet come back in for the winger.