Celtic’s Daizen Maeda has been one of the most talked-about players in Scotland this season.
Named the club’s Player of the Year last year, Maeda was understandably a man in demand this summer, but there was no strong inclination that he would be leaving Glasgow.
That was until Maeda made the bombshell revelation that he had expected to leave in the summer, and had even asked the club to make a move happen.
Brendan Rodgers sympathised with his star attacker, noting that this was a factor in his drop-off in form at the beginning of the season.
But after Wilfried Nancy hinted that Maeda will stay in January, the situation seems to have changed again.
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Mark Guidi on Daizen Maeda leaving Celtic
Nancy openly said that he hoped to see Maeda stay in the January window, despite what has happened previously.
And journalist Mark Guidi, who has background knowledge of the situation, has named the most likely time and price that would see Maeda depart.
READ MORE: Wilfried Nancy asked about Cucho Hernandez ahead of first Celtic transfer window
Speaking on the Go Radio Football Show, Guidi revealed the club that Maeda was close to joining, also giving his expectation of the circumstances in which he will eventually leave.
He said: “I know, for sure, that there was interest from Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga.
“I think that was the one that was the closest to happening for him, had Celtic been willing to sell him.
“As I said many times at the end of last season: if ever there was a time to sell Maeda, it was in the summer. Because he was at his maximum in terms of market value.
“He was 27, so he’s now a year older, he’s not been great this season. He’s missed four or five sitters – even the one against Almaty was a massive miss, in the Champions League qualifier when he was clean through.
“That said, you can see that he’s certainly giving his all. When he scores a goal, you can see how happy he is, and what it means to him.
“So I don’t think he’ll be sold in January; he’s the kind of guy that you definitely need to keep. He still sets that energy level.
“But come the summer, I do think it will be time to move on. I don’t know exact figures, but if you were going to get £17-18 million for him last summer, you’ll get maximum half that this summer.”
How much would you sell Daizen Maeda for?
Other Celtic players who could leave
Reports in Japan have suggested that Reo Hatate could also move in January, but nothing in Scotland has even hinted at this.
Yang-Hyun Jun, who came close to leaving in the summer, has reportedly impressed his suitors with his performances over the last month – Celtic would be reluctant to sell him though, given his new-found importance to the team.
Perhaps more likely to leave are the players who aren’t getting a look-in. Hayato Inamura has been linked with a return to Japan.
Paulo Bernardo, Shin Yamada and Jahmai Simpson-Pusey could also look for minutes elsewhere.
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