Celtic icon blasts 'baffling' transfer timeline for outgoing star as 'buttons' agreed fee also scrutinised
Hoops talisman’s departure is expected to be announced imminently
Celtic hero Chris Sutton is baffled by the club’s decision to offload talisman Daizen Maeda to Ipswich Town - and doesn’t think the reported ‘buttons’ fee should leave them in a hurry to get rid, with an important Champions League qualifier around the corner.
The Japanese forward has completed his medical at Portman Road, with a reported deal imminent of £8m agreed, plus £2m in add-ons. Celtic are now tasked with replacing Maeda’s energy and attacking output with just over a week until their season officially gets underway at home to Dundee. Next month, the Hoops will also have an important Champions League play-off to contend at the same stage they stumbled at last season.
With crucial fixtures ahead, Sutton has been left perplexed by the timing of the Maeda deal, claiming that they could’ve either held out for an improved offer or at least waited until the European play-off was over. Celtic’s solitary signing Camilo Duran has helped bolster their options in attacking areas, but Sutton also reckons they’ll need more than that to replace their Duracell Bunny.
Sutton of ‘baffling’ Maeda transfer timeline
In his Daily Record column, the former Hoops and Chelsea striker wrote: “A lot of Celtic’s transfer market behaviour has been baffling. But I find the decision to cash in on Daizen Maeda now utterly incredible. The fee of £8m – rising to £10m – is buttons for starters. He’s worth way more than that to Celtic. The real puzzle is why they let him go now. Celtic might argue they already have his replacement in Camilo Duran but Maeda does the job of more than one role, so that argument doesn’t wash.
“There’s also the matter of a massive Champions League qualifier in a few weeks. I know Celtic were resigned to him leaving but unless the offer was totally ridiculous, they should have stood firm and said he wasn’t leaving until AFTER the qualifier. Ten million at that point, you’d think fair enough – if he’d helped deliver a place in the group stages.”
Celtic have delayed the sales of key men in the past including iconic defender Virgil van Dijk and prolific striker Moussa Dembele, due to important European fixtures. Having missed out on the Champions League last season at the hands of Kazakhstan minnows Kairat Almaty, it’s a fixture the Hoops can ill-afford to lose again.
Celtic tasked with replacing the irreplaceable
With Maeda headed for the exit door, manager Martin O’Neill and the club’s recruitment team now have the nigh on impossible task of replacing him. The striker has scored 79 goals in 212 Hoops appearances, but arguably enjoyed his best spell in a green and white jersey during last season’s run-in, where his attacking output helped them secure the domestic double.
Bodo Glimt striker Kasper Hogh has been identified as a potential replacement. The 25-year old Denmark international is reportedly nearing a Celtic transfer after impressing in the Champions League last season. The Norwegian Eliteserien over-achievers value him at around £8m.