Celtic Manager Wilfried Nancy Expresses Commitment to Daizen Maeda
Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy is keen to keep Daizen Maeda at the club and asserts that the forward is "really happy" with the Scottish champions after a potential summer transfer was blocked.
The 28-year-old Maeda, who expressed a desire to leave in September, had previously indicated to former manager Brendan Rodgers that he wanted to move on as early as February.
Currently under contract until June 2027, Maeda had an impressive 2024-25 season, scoring 33 goals, but has struggled this term with only seven goals so far.
"He's really happy here," Nancy commented on Maeda, who has netted once in five starts under his management. "I know he had the opportunity to leave earlier, but for now, he's with us and content to be here. We definitely want to keep him, and he is aware of that. I hope he stays with us."
Since joining from Yokohama F. Marinos in 2022, Maeda has played both as a central striker and on the left wing, and Nancy is pleased to have such versatility in his squad.
"When he starts in the middle, he makes runs to the side to attack. When he begins on the side, he drives towards the net. It's all about these different situations," Nancy explained. "He can also play as a number nine, but he needs support from his teammates. He’s a player who can hold the ball and enjoys making runs and combining with others. Tactically, he’s very interesting; when he’s on the wing, I know something will happen, and we can exploit his position to attack through the middle."
Celtic has struggled with finishing, recording four defeats and only one win under Nancy's management, scoring a total of 29 goals in 17 league games, which is 19 fewer than at the same point last season.
When asked if acquiring a new striker is a priority for the January transfer window, Nancy replied, "Yes, but if you look at the [3-1 win over Aberdeen on Sunday], we missed many opportunities that weren’t solely the fault of the forwards. We'll assess our options. My role is to analyze my players first, and then I will decide what steps to take. Sometimes we want to make moves, but there are factors beyond our control. We’re not the only club in the market, and competition for players can be tough. I might say I want you as a number six, but we could be competing with other clubs for that player."