Daizen Maeda has spoken out for the first time since being linked with a January move to Celtic.
Ange Postecoglou knows all about the Yokohama Marino striker having signed him before switching to manage Celtic this summer.
The success of Kyogo Furuhashi has opened the doors to the Japanese market for Celtic with Postecoglou ideally placed to judge which players can quickly settle in to the Scottish game.
Maeda has scored 18 goals in 31 J League appearances this year, with the 2021 finishing up next month there should be less complications over a January switch with Yokohama beginning their plans for next season.
Speaking to The Sun about transfer speculation, Maeda said:
I know about the reports, but my job is just to concentrate on playing and hopefully scoring goals for Yokohama. I am trying not to think too much about the speculation.
I always think I can score goals in any match and that’s all I am thinking about at the moment. I am trying to get into the Japan team for the World Cup qualifiers too. Of course, if I keep scoring goals then good things will happen.
On Friday Postecoglou played down reports that Celtic were in advanced talks for any player but has admitted that the Japanese market is one that he will be looking at with plans already underway.
Being reunited with his former Yokohama boss would seem an obvious move for Maeda but the success of Kyogo is likely to have other European clubs looking at strikers from the J-League.
