FORMER Celtic goal hero Chris Sutton insists it would be CRAZY for his old club to sell Daizen Maeda in this transfer window.
The one-time England international striker reckons the Hoops shouldn’t even contemplate selling the Japanese speedster – even if a bid of £75million came in for last season’s top scorer with 22 strikes.
And Maeda got off the mark in the 4-1 Premier Sports League Cup win over Falkirk at Parkhead last night when he launched himself full-length to bullet a Kieran Tierney knockdown past his ex-team-mate Scott Bain.
Ironically, it was the flying forward who claimed the team’s final goal in the competition last season when he tucked away the trophy-winning penalty-kick beyond Jack Butland in the spot-kick shoot-out to overcome Philippe Clement’s Ibrox side at Hampden in mid-December.
SPOT ON…Daizen Maeda drills in the winning penalty-kick in Celtic’s Premier Sports League Cup triumph over Ibrox opposition at Hampden in December.
Speaking of Maeda’s worth to the champions, Sutton said: “It would be absolutely ridiculous to even entertain any notion of letting the attacker go right now.
“I don’t care what anyone says about the Celtic model or the prospect of a big-money bid. Maeda simply CANNOT be allowed to depart right now. For any money.
“Even if it’s crazy cash – £75million wouldn’t cut it. Honestly.
“That might sound like I’ve lost my marbles, but I’m serious. Celtic wouldn’t be losing just one player.
“Maeda’s versatility would mean they would be saying goodbye to at least two – and that’s at a time when they are already down to the bare bones in the front areas.”
Sutton, speaking to the Daily Record, continued: “There are some who say he’s 27 years old, he has two years left on his deal and this might be the time to cash in. That would be fine if there were two replacements already lined up.
THE CUP THAT CHEERS…Daizen Maeda accepts the acclaim of his team-mates and fans after Celtic’s silverware success at Hampden.
“But, given Celtic still haven’t replaced Kyogo Furuhashi or Nicolas Kuhn, I’d doubt it would be the case with Maeda.
“I didn’t think Kyogo would go in January. Likewise in the summer, I felt Kuhn was worth keeping for another year, or at least there would be cover in the door first. I’ve been proved wrong both times and I could be again with this one.
“But selling Maeda in this window would be just about the final straw. What would Brendan Rodgers be left with?
“He already needs wide men and a striker. The board would be taking the legs out from under him.
“There’s also suggestions Maeda might want to go and it’s difficult to keep a player who is determined to leave.
“Why should it be? Maeda has two years left on his contract – a contract he was happy to sign – and you have a duty to your employers.”
EURO STAR…Daizen Maeda is about to be congratulated by Cameron Carter-Vickers after his Champions league goal against Bayern Munich ar Parkhead in February.
The former £6million hitman, who was Martin O’Neill’s first signing for the club in the summer of 2000, added: “He’s also the most important player in the squad, so he needs to stay.
“If there are options in 12 months then so be it, that could be the time to deal. But not now.
“Celtic are already gambling with the Champions League with their failure to land attacking targets in this window.
“Maeda going and they’d be folding altogether. And at some stage you have to say enough is enough.”
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