Celtic supporters can take heart from the recent noise around Daizen Maeda, but optimism alone won’t be enough.
Over the past weeks, fans have been searching for signs that key players will commit beyond this season. The Nicolas Kühn situation feels close to resolution—though few expect him to stay.
Maeda, however, is another matter entirely. His versatility makes him doubly valuable, and losing him would mean replacing not one role, but two, with no guarantee of matching his quality. Securing his future has to be a priority.
Compared to Kühn, the mood is brighter. Maeda seems happy in Glasgow, invested in the team’s cause.
Brendan Rodgers has reportedly sought Dermot Desmond’s backing to get a deal done, which shows how central the player is to plans. His public presence—positive social posts, talk of preparing for next season—suggests he’s leaning toward staying. Yet, until a pen meets paper, uncertainty will linger.
Maeda’s character fuels the belief he might remain. Humble, team-focused, free from ego, he values the collective above personal headlines.
Keeping him would pair well with retaining Reo Hatate, whose rapport with Rodgers has grown. Hatate is playing regularly, even when not at his best, and that reflects the manager’s trust.
Rodgers still faces a challenging campaign ahead, not because of Rangers, but because opponents are increasingly setting up deep and compact.
In that battle, Maeda is indispensable. Now Celtic just need to ensure he’s here to fight it.