The summer transfer rumour mill is starting to heat up, as Celtic are getting a mention, alongside Fenerbahce.
There is a lot of talk about who Celtic will sign this summer, especially filling that striker void after Kyogo Furuhashi’s exit in January.
But, perhaps the best deal the champions of Scotland will conclude is keeping Daizen Maeda at the club for next season.
The 27-year-old ripped it up during the recently concluded campaign, including winning the double by scoring 33 goals in all competitions.
Maeda won PFA Player of the Year, as a result of his performances, and interest in him rose in the transfer market, including from Turkish giants, Fenerbahce.
Fenerbahce fans issue a mixed reaction to Celtic transfer links with Daizen Maeda
Fenerbahce are in the same boat as Rangers are in Scotland, as they can’t dethrone the top team from their country, after Galatasaray were crowned champions during the recent season.
Jose Mourinho is the man in the Fener dugout, and it has been suggested that they want to sign Maeda this summer, with ‘£25 million’ being mooted.
But the Fenerbahce fans are mixed about signing Maeda, including for the fee being mentioned, as they expressed on social media.
@h_aloglu thinks Maeda is ‘Premier League’ bound’: ‘The best scorer and most in-form wing forward in all leagues this season, if I’m not mistaken, he has over 30 goals and double-digit assists. He will most likely make the Premier League.’
@deividfedaisi wants Maeda’s teammate: ‘Take Nicolas Kühn. He’s a very good man.’
@Emirhanovic10 questioned the transfer fee: ‘He is a good player but not worth 25, max 15-16.’
@fenerbahceorgs wants Sancho instead of Maeda: ‘Instead of buying this, buy Sancho’.
@ardapoyraz07 noted his dream scenario, which won’t come true: ‘Maeda on one wing and Cerny on the other and Cherki behind him would be great.’
@Atil1907 explains why Maeda won’t play in Turkey: ‘Too good. But this won’t come to Türkiye. Many teams in Europe already want him.’
@KopruSatiyom wants the deal to happen: ‘Players like Cerny Maeda should be recruited, there is no need for the worn-out stars of the big teams.’
@NigelOnFire18 wants a more proven star: ‘Go for players who have proven themselves in the big leagues.’
@Naib1907 appreciates Maeda, but would prefer someone else for that ‘£25m’ price: ‘Not a bad football player… But for the money I would give for this, I would get Noa Lang from PSV.’
@ocean38122943 made an interesting comparison: ‘Don’t make this mistake. It becomes Kent vol2.’
Has Maeda already hinted about what will happen to his Celtic future?
At the end of the day, if the money is put on the table, then Celtic do sell, and that was proven with Matt O’Riley last summer.
The only difference is that O’Riley moved to the Premier League, and whilst fans don’t want Maeda to go, the preference probably will be to join England’s top-flight, because that’s where all the money and noise is.
Added to that, back in March, Maeda was asked about his future, and his response wasn’t what Celtic fans want to hear, as he told Sky Sports Football.
A reporter asked: ‘You seem so settled, so for you, when you see other players leave, for you, is it Celtic for the long term?’
Maeda responded: “Well, I am not sure. That’s a difficult question. While I am here. I always want to fight and play for Celtic. I want to keep focusing and playing for the team.”
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