Kris Boyd has been making plenty of headlines this week.
The former Rangers striker has tipped his old team to win the Scottish Premiership title ahead of Celtic with new boss Russell Martin in charge.
Boyd thinks the Hoops are much ‘weaker’ than the end of last season, but wouldn’t argue the fact that they are favourites generally to retain their crown.
Writing for The Scottish Sun, Boyd also opted to devote column inches to Celtic forward Daizen Maeda before the opening Premiership weekend.
Maeda scooped up every award last season having scored 33 goals in 51 games for the Bhoys, helping secure the Double.
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Boyd on the future of Maeda and Celtic sale risk
But Boyd believes there’s a huge risk of Maeda exiting the club because Celtic would be willing to accept a ‘massive’ offer if one is lodged between now and September 1.
Maeda is on the radar of Brentford and hasn’t yet signed a contract extension at Celtic, although his deal doesn’t end until 2027.
Celtic are reportedly keen on securing Maeda on a new deal, but Rodgers confirmed last week there’s nothing to report on that front.
Boyd said: “With Jota injured, Nicolas Kuhn gone and Rodgers still asking for a Kyogo Furuhashi replacement, Celtic look short in attack.
“The uncertainty over the manager’s future won’t help matters as he enters the final 12 months of his contract.
“Then you have the Daizen Maeda situation, with that new contract still not signed months after it was put on the table.
“There is no doubt the Japanese striker will be a target for English and European clubs. At 27, he is at the stage where his next deal will be the biggest of his career.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if Celtic got a massive bid for Maeda before the window shuts and I’m not sure they would turn it down.”
Maeda is a ‘game changer’ for Celtic
Maeda came up against former interim Rangers boss Barry Ferguson last season and the latter admits he was impressed by the Japanese speedster.
And Ferguson thinks losing Maeda this summer would be a massive dent in Celtic’s armoury. He told Go Radio: “That would be a huge loss.
“I don’t know how long he has got left. A year or two. But Maeda is the big one for Celtic. He is the game changer.
“We mentioned last week, when you actually come up close and you actually watch him at the ground level, he is a machine, and he impressed me.
“I always thought he was really good. But, even on the left, he has played predominantly most of his football on the left, but when he went through the middle for Celtic, I thought he was excellent.”
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