Celtic know that any player can be sold for the right fee, and Daizen Maeda is no exception.
Last summer it was widely reported that the Japanese forward was keen to move on, only for the club to step in and prevent a deal from being completed. Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph, who closely follows transfer developments in Scotland, has now offered fresh insight into how close Maeda came to leaving and where things stand now.
Speaking on Off the Underside, Joseph made it clear that allowing Maeda to depart in January would cause a major backlash. With tensions already high between the board and supporters, he believes such a decision would spark serious unrest at Parkhead.
Joseph also revealed just how advanced the situation became during the summer window. According to him, a significant offer arrived late in the window, around the time of the first derby of the season. Maeda had emptied his locker and was ready to go, but Celtic ultimately blocked the move because suitable replacements were not in place.
Joseph suggested that losing both Maeda and Adam Idah without bringing anyone in could have triggered further fallout, including the possibility of Brendan Rodgers walking away. While he acknowledged that an extraordinary offer would always have to be considered, he stressed that a January sale remains highly unlikely, with Celtic unwilling to weaken their squad mid-season.
Looking at the bigger picture, Joseph believes Celtic have backed themselves into a corner. Rather than focusing on long-term planning, the priority has shifted to immediate results. The board’s main objective is to secure the league title, even if that means postponing deeper structural changes until the summer.
He explained that while supporters want to see clear ambition for the future, the club hierarchy are focused on recovery. Winning the league is viewed as essential, after which Celtic expect a hectic summer that goes beyond player recruitment and into a wider rebuild of the club’s overall structure.