That’s largely down to Kyogo Furuhashi leaving in January, and then the club not replacing him, before Maeda started playing down the middle on a regular basis for Brendan Rodgers.
The 27-year-old was signed by Celtic in 2022 when Ange Postecoglou was in charge, and his high-energy playing style became a prominent feature of his game, including becoming a popular player with the fans.
But when Maeda started scoring for fun, that’s when sparks started to fly, and Celtic got to see the best of the man from Japan.
That includes scoring and putting on a strong performance against Bayern Munich in the knockout phases of the Champions League.
But all of that comes at a price, and that’s the transfer interest from the outside.
Why Jose Mourinho and Fenerbahce want to sign Daizen Maeda
After Premier League interest in Maeda, including from the likes of Leeds United, you can now add Jose Mourinho and Fenerbahce to that list.
Reports are coming from Turkey that Fener, who finished second in the Super Lig this season, are keen on bringing Maeda to their club.
Turkish outlet Takvim states that Fenerbahce’s sporting director, Mario Branco, has pushed ahead for new transfers, and Maeda’s name has come up.
It has been stated that Mourinho’s side want to sign a ‘highly athletic’ player, so they have turned their eyes to Glasgow and Maeda, as he ‘stands out’ with his goals and assists.
How Fenerbahce think Maeda is viewed at Celtic and his transfer price
The Turkish outlet rightly points out that Maeda has taken the season ‘by storm’, including his four goals in Europe’s elite competition.
That’s why Maeda won Scotland’s PFA Player of the Year award, and let’s be honest, it was as clear as day that it was going to be him.
But the Turkish reports also state Maeda is one of Celtic’s ‘most beloved’ players, and they think he is valued at 11 million Euros, which comes in at just over £9 million.
It’s fair to say that, Celtic, the board, or the fans, are never going to accept such a fee for a player.
