Celtic are prepared to allow a player to leave the club this summer, with Martin O’Neill’s team willing to approve his exit from the Scottish Premiership heavyweights, according to a report today.
Sunday’s Old Firm showdown at Ibrox was the type of contest that will be remembered for years — and for Celtic, it proved a massive reprieve.
Rangers had surged into a 2-0 advantage and looked set to land a crushing blow to their rivals’ title hopes. With Hearts six points ahead of Rangers at the summit heading into the weekend, Celtic simply could not afford to slip further adrift.
But somehow, they mounted a comeback.
A breathtaking second-half resurgence, sparked by substitute Reo Hatate, hauled them back into the match. Kieran Tierney nodded one in to spark belief among the travelling support, and then, deep into added time, Hatate earned and dispatched a penalty to level it at 2-2 — although not before Jack Butland had denied him twice, forcing the Japanese midfielder to convert at the third time of asking.
The outcome leaves Celtic eight points behind Hearts, albeit with a game in hand. It is far from perfect, but considerably better than the alternative scenario.
The pundit was unimpressed.
A loss at Ibrox would have left O’Neill’s men facing an almost insurmountable challenge.
Instead, the title contest remains alive, and Celtic will believe they now carry the impetus over their rivals after snatching a dramatic draw from the brink of defeat.
However, there is a notable shadow looming over the squad that has nothing to do with league standings.
One player whose showing at Ibrox drew criticism was Daizen Maeda, and his performance on Sunday only fuelled growing frustration among supporters who have been running out of patience with the Japanese attacker for some time.
Sections of the media labelled Maeda’s display against the Gers as ‘pathetic’, and it seems the club share that assessment.
Celtic prepared to offload Daizen Maeda who is keen to leave Parkhead:
According to Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke, Celtic have resolved to sell Maeda this summer and are open to bids for the 28-year-old.
The call has essentially been made — insiders indicate there is no prospect of him agreeing fresh terms, and with his contract moving into its final 12 months this summer, the club are unwilling to risk losing him for nothing. They intend to recoup a fee while they still have leverage.
It marks a striking downturn for a player who was previously cherished at Celtic Park.
Maeda had been a consistent fan favourite in the early stages of his time in Glasgow, admired for his tireless running and relentless pressing.
But both form and reliability have deserted him this campaign, with only seven Premiership strikes to his tally, and his rapport with the support has deteriorated significantly.
Maeda has also been seeking an exit from Celtic for some time, but Brendan Rodgers blocked a move in the summer and the club stood firm again in January amid a tight title race. This time around, that stance has softened.
The hunt for a successor is where matters become more complex.
Celtic had earmarked Bodo/Glimt forward Kasper Hogh — who has netted 22 goals in all competitions this term — as a leading candidate.
However, the Norwegian’s performances in the Champions League, including strikes against Inter Milan, may inflate his price tag and push Celtic out of contention.
Identifying the ideal replacement for Maeda will be the primary challenge of the summer. Moving him on, it appears, will not.