Brendan Rodgers to Hold Urgent Daizen Maeda Celtic Talks – Report

Brendan Rodgers is set for urgent discussions with Daizen Maeda after the winger admitted he wanted to leave Celtic during the summer transfer window.

The Japanese international, due back at Lennoxtown today, returned to his homeland during the break and revealed that he had asked Celtic to sanction a move away. Maeda went as far as saying he had agreed terms with another club before the Hoops blocked the deal.

It has since emerged that a German club tabled a significant bid on the final weekend of the window.

Rodgers is now keen to gauge where the player’s head is at after such a turbulent episode, SunSport reports. The Celtic manager will meet Maeda to assess his mindset, with the forward expected to remain an important figure in the months ahead despite the transfer saga.

Celtic’s next match is at Rugby Park against Kilmarnock on Sunday, live on Sky Sports.

Maeda’s contract situation adds another layer of urgency. When next summer arrives, he will be entering the final 12 months of his deal. If Celtic are to cash in, and if Maeda remains intent on leaving, then January could become a crucial moment.

The situation is yet another headache for Rodgers following a summer that saw Nicolas Kuhn and Adam Idah depart without like-for-like replacements, with Kyogo still not replaced. With supporters furious over the state of the squad and a board under mounting pressure, uncertainty over one of the team’s most reliable performers is the last thing Celtic needed heading into a demanding run of fixtures.