The transfer news every Celtic fan was expecting this summer: Daizen Maeda heading for the exit door.
It has been well-documented that Maeda wanted to leave Celtic last summer and fulfil his dream of playing in the English Premier League.
The all-action forward is now getting that wish because Maeda is expected to join Ipswich Town, who were promoted back to the top-flight last season.
Alex Crook has claimed on talkSPORT that those inside Portman Road spoke about doing something different in the transfer market, and the Maeda signing might just be it.
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Is Daizen Maeda Ipswich Town’s ‘curveball’ signing?
“That seems a really good signing to me,” said Crook about Maeda leaving to join Ipswich. “I spoke to somebody at Ipswich a few days ago, and they said, ‘We are going to try and bring in a few established players.’
“They have signed Issa Diop (from Fulham), who obviously has got Premier League experience. Then they said, ‘We are going to throw a few curveballs as well.’
“I wonder if this is one of those curveballs. He looks like the type of player to me who can score goals in the Premier League.”
Maeda deserves his Premier League move
Yes, Maeda’s form was nowhere to be seen for 75% of the previous campaign, but he admitted his faults, got his act together and went goal-crazy during the post-split fixtures.
At the end of the day, the Japan star leaves on a high; it’s the right time for Celtic to move him on, and now he gets his wish of playing in the so-called best league in the world.
One thing is for sure: many of the Celtic Park faithful will be rooting for him to do well, because Ipswich will have their work cut out.
Kieran McKenna was previously linked with Celtic, given the stellar job he did at Ipswich, but he left his post this summer to take a rest, as the club have appointed Strasbourg coach Gary O’Neill.
The one positive for Maeda is that every team will attack Ipswich next season, so it will leave a lot of space for the Japan star to run in behind and cause havoc.
And if he makes himself a hero, just like he did with the champions of Scotland, then there will be many Celtic supporters pleased for him.
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