New Daizen Maeda Celtic suitor circles as chase heats up for wantaway forward

The newly-promoted English Premier League outfit are keen to strengthen their forward line ahead of the new season and have identified Maeda, who has a year left on his Celtic contract, as a potential recruit.

Maeda is keen to leave Celtic this summer after spending four-and-a-half trophy-laden years in Glasgow. The 28-year-old helped the club retain their Premiership crown last season and after representing Japan at the World Cup, he made no secret of his desire to move on to a fresh challenge.

Ipswich are understood to have scouted Maeda heavily and believe he would fit into their team. They are under a new head coach in Gary O’Neil, who took over from Kieran McKenna last month, and he is intent on assembling his squad quickly ahead of the EPL beginning on August 22.

Maeda came close to leaving Celtic for German club Wolfsburg a year ago, while there was also interest from Brentford - another English club.

Speaking last week to Japanese media, Maeda said on his future: “Since I went to Celtic, I became interested in the Premier League. I started watching a lot of Premier League games. I have a strong desire to play in the Premier League.

“I watch all the games. When I was in Japan, I didn’t watch football at all. But when I went abroad, I was able to watch it in real time. So I naturally watched the Premier League.

“I was watching Atletico’s game and (Antoine) Griezmann scored a loop shot. The next day, I scored the same loop shot. So I thought it was important to watch football.

“I think the higher you go, the better you get.”