“EVERTON READY TO SMASH THEIR TRANSFER RECORD AND STEAL MAN CITY’S £13M GOAL MACHINE WHO DROPPED AN INSANE 45 GOALS AND ASSISTS LAST SEASON – FANS ARE LOSING THEIR MINDS!”
Everton are reportedly preparing a move to land Japanese winger Daizen Maeda in the upcoming January transfer window, per Football Insider.
Daizen Maeda has been one of the standout success stories among the wave of Japanese players making the switch to Scottish football.
Since arriving at Celtic in July 2022, the dynamic forward has become an integral figure at the Glasgow club.
His move reunited him with Ange Postecoglou, the Greek-born Australian manager he previously played under at Yokohama F. Marinos, and the partnership quickly flourished.
Over the course of his time at Celtic, the 28-year-old has delivered remarkable consistency. Maeda has amassed 66 goals and 30 assists in 175 appearances, contributing heavily to a trophy-filled era for the Bhoys.
During this period, Celtic secured four successive Scottish Premiership titles, alongside two Scottish Cups and two Scottish League Cups, cementing their dominance in domestic competition.
Maeda’s 2024–25 season was particularly impressive, as he racked up 45 goal contributions in 51 matches across all competitions.
However, his output has dipped noticeably this term, with only six goal contributions in 17 games.
This decline, combined with the fact he has just two years left on his contract, has sparked fresh speculation regarding his future.
According to Football Insider, Maeda is unwilling to commit to a new deal at Celtic and is now exploring options to leave the club permanently in January.
The report suggests Everton have emerged as a leading contender for his signature after previously failing to secure him last summer, when clubs such as Tottenham Hotspur and Brentford also registered interest.
Everton are reportedly considering the Japan international as a potential January addition to bolster their attacking options, and Maeda is said to be open to making the move to the Premier League.
However, Celtic will only approve his departure if they secure an adequate replacement, as they remain determined not to weaken their squad without reinforcements.
Everton’s need for attacking reinforcements is clear. Despite some promising displays, the team have struggled to convert chances consistently.
Jack Grealish has created 19 opportunities in his last seven league outings, yet none have been turned into goals.
Meanwhile, centre-forwards Beto and Thierno Barry have scored just one Premier League goal between them across 11 matches, underlining the lack of cutting edge in the final third.
Maeda’s potential arrival would give David Moyes a versatile forward capable of adding goals, creativity, and direct dribbling ability, as well as a dangerous outlet on the counter-attack.
With Celtic reportedly willing to consider bids that meet his estimated £13m Transfermarkt valuation, West Ham may need to match that figure to stand a realistic chance of securing his services in January.
