The attacker was the stand-out performer for the Hoops last season as he scooped numerous player of the year awards after banging in 33 goals in all competitions.<\/p>\n
However, he has failed to match that form this season and spoke of his disappointment at missing out on a move<\/a> away from the club last summer while on international duty.<\/p>\n But after a sluggish start to the season under Brendan Rodgers, the forward has shown flashes of his best since the arrival of interim gaffer Martin O’Neill.<\/p>\n Record Sport understands there is still strong interest in the 28-year-old going into the new year and he could finally leave after the club turned down several approaches for the<\/a> key man in the last couple of windows.<\/p>\n Maeda insists his focus is on his club form no matter where he is with sights set on the World Cup <\/a>next summer – with the next international break coming up in March.<\/p>\n He told Soccer King <\/a>after Japan’s win over Bolivia: “We have three to four months off from now, so playing with my team will be extremely important.<\/p>\n “I’m not just saying that to myself, but I think everyone feels the same way. I hope to return to my team, continue to play well, and be able to return in March.”<\/p>\n Celtic have yet to appoint a permanent replacement for Rodgers with Columbus Crew boss Wilfried Nancy<\/a> the clear frontrunner.<\/p>\n Former Hoops’ star Charlie Mulgrew reckons that the next man in the hot seat on permanent basis could push for Maeda to remain at the club.<\/p>\n However, he concedes that if the frontman is pushing to leave – after Brentford were keen in the summer alongside major Bundesliga interest – he should be given the go-ahead.<\/p>\n Mulgrew told the Go Radio Football Show: “Maeda is a big one. Is the new manager keeping Maeda? Is he getting let go?<\/p>\n “Martin O’Neill seems to have got a tune out of him and got him back to his old self, but you can’t keep a player for too long if they don’t want to be there and you shouldn’t, because you wouldn’t get the best out of them anyway.<\/p>\n “That is a conversation that needs to be had. If he doesn’t, he should go and the money should be reinvested.”<\/p>\n Follow Record Sport<\/strong> on Twitter<\/a>, Facebook<\/a> and Instagram<\/a> for all of the up-to-the minute breaking news, video and audio on the SPFL, the Scotland national team and beyond.<\/p>\n You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Celtic<\/a> page, and sign up to our newsletters<\/a> to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season.<\/p>\n We’re also WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to you phone. Join our Celtic community here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Tune in to Hotline Live<\/a> every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport’s newest podcast, Game On<\/a>, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunk<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"Celtic's](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/0_Celtic-v-Motherwell-William-Hill-Premiership.jpg\")
Celtic’s Daizen Maeda (Image: SNS Group)<\/p>\n