Celtic forward Daizen Maeda just completed a medical at Ipswich Town for a Premier League switch, and former Celtic striker Chris Sutton is absolutely fuming. He’s calling the decision to sell Maeda before a Champions League qualifier “utter baffling,” and says the reported £8m fee, potentially rising to £10m, is nothing but “buttons.” Ouch.
Who Steps Up After That Head-Scratcher of a Deal?
“Buttons” is right. You sell a guy right before a Champions League qualifier for a fee that low? It just doesn’t make sense. Now Celtic is scrambling, trying to find a replacement. They’re reportedly exploring a deal for Lazio winger Matteo Cancellieri, hoping he can make an immediate impact. Football Insider is on it, so you know it’s real. They need to get this one locked down fast.
More Targets Loom, But Are They Enough?
Cancellieri isn’t the only name floating around. Bodo/Glimt wants a hefty £8m for striker Kasper Hogh, and Paderborn isn’t messing around either, holding out for “big money” for midfielder Mika Baur. Both guys have been linked with Celtic, and honestly, the chatter is already out there that Celtic is “close on Hogh.” Hungarian champs Gyori ETO even hinted they’d sell midfielder Milan Vitalis, another name that popped up in May for Celtic and Rangers. The club is clearly looking for firepower, but after that Maeda deal, you gotta wonder if they’ll actually drop the cash needed.
Rivals on the Move and The Wider Buzz
It’s not just Celtic making moves, though. Over in MLS, Charlotte is deep in talks to snag former Rangers captain James Tavernier. That’s a huge name potentially heading across the pond, and it comes after former Rangers head coach Danny Rohl had been chasing Scotland striker Lawrence Shankland before Rohl bounced to RB Salzburg. Charlton Athletic is doing everything to keep Lyndon Dykes, prepping an improved offer after clubs on both sides of the border started sniffing around. Even Scotland captain Andy Robertson is playing recruiter, working on new Tottenham Hotspur teammate Archie Gray, just 20, for the national squad. Rotherham United is keen on Bruce Anderson as his Kilmarnock contract expired, and Scottish set-piece coach Austin McPhee is ditching Aston Villa for Chelsea. So yeah, Real Madrid might be confident in signing Rodri, but the whole football world is buzzing.
So, here we are. Maeda’s gone, and it feels like a low blow given the timing and the price. The Champions League qualifier is right around the corner, and Celtic needs to show some serious intent in this transfer market. Will they land Cancellieri? Can they seal the deal for Hogh or Baur? The pressure is on to replace that lost talent and prove they mean business. This isn’t just about one player leaving, it’s about what this whole window signals for the club’s ambitions.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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