MARTIN O’NEILL will hold talks with Daizen Maeda concerning his Celtic future over the next couple of days.
The interim manager is scouring the transfer market in this window for a new striker, but he also wants to make sure the Japanese speedster is committed in the crucial weeks and months that lie ahead.
The World Cup-bound forward was on the verge of quitting the Hoops in the summer before the proposed switch fell through.
O’Neill received a setback during the week when Kyogo Furuhashi rejected the opportunity of a loan return to Parkhead to remain at Birmingham City where he is under contract until June 2028.
Undeterred, the Irishman and the club’s scouts will look elsewhere, but he emphasised the need for Maeda to remain in place while the process is stepped up all the way to the window closing on Monday February 2.
Last season’s 33-goal man sealed the champions’ 4-0 victory over Dundee United at Parkhead yesterday with the final strike, his eighth of the campaign.
THAT’S MY BHOY…Benjamin Nygren congratulates goalscorer Daizen Maeda.
Yang Hyun-jun had opened the scoring with a low drive from just outside the box before Arne Engels added a slick second before the interval.
Substitute Benjamin Nygren added a third before Maeda struck to take advantage of a spill from keeper Dave Richards after he fumbled a low shot from Sebastian Tounekti.
Quizzed if he had had the opportunity to discuss the matter with Maeda, O’Neill, speaking to Celtic TV, answered: “No, I haven’t and I will do now that we’ve got a couple of days [before Falkirk game].
“I would hope that he’d stay at the football club.
“I’m fearful of saying something to you here and finding out maybe three days later something else has happened.
“But no, I wouldn’t want to lose him.”
FOUR HE’S A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW- WELCOME BACK, MARTIN!
WANT TO KNOW A SECRET? Celtic Confidential is the stunning new book that brings the exclusive inside stories behind the headlines. Alex Gordon’s sixteenth Celtic book is available NOW. Order a copy and get £5 OFF the cover price of £25. All is revealed in a sensational new publication. Just click SHOP HERE and your book will be on its way. Happy reading!
