BIG-SPENDING Everton are ready to join the £20million chase for Daizen Maeda.
The 28-year-old Japanese World Cup striker looks to be on his way from Celtic, despite having one season left to run on his contract.
Maeda came close to a £14million switch to Bundesliga club Wolfsburg last summer before the deal collapsed at the eleventh hour.
Fulham, Brentford and Nottingham Forest, who are also linked with £25million-rated Arne Engels, have already been mentioned as possible rivals for the jet-heeled forward.
Now Davie Moyes’ side are eyeing Maeda, according to a South Korean sports media outlet.
AT THE DOUBLE…Daizen Maeda scores Celtic’s second goal in the 3-1 title-clinching win over Hearts at Parkhead and (below) the Japanese forward lobs in the opening strike in the Hoops’ 3-1 Scottish Cup Final triumph over Dunfermline at Hampden.
The Merseyside club have just agreed a £24million deal with Chelsea to sign 20-year-old winger Tyrique George in a permanent deal after he impressed during his season-long loan.
And they also clinched another £24million move when they landed 24-year-old Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney during the week.
Maeda, who scored two goals for his country in the soccer showpiece event before being eliminated by Brazil, finished the season strongly for Celtic and was pivotal to the league and Cup double success.
But it looks almost certain his four-and-a-half year stay at Parkhead is coming to an end.
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