Overview
- Reports say Ipswich have formally opened talks and submitted an approach for Daizen Maeda, with the club keen to conclude a quick transfer.
- Maeda has publicly said he wants to play in the Premier League and told Japanese TV that a lower asking price would make a move easier.
- Celtic are understood to be willing to sell this summer rather than risk losing Maeda for free next year because he is in the final year of his contract.
- Some outlets report an initial offer structure discussed between the clubs that starts around £8m and could rise to about £10m with add-ons, but no deal has been confirmed.
- Ipswich are also pursuing free agent Hidemasa Morita and the club’s targeted recruitment of Japanese internationals follows Maeda’s raised profile after the World Cup, a development that could boost Portman Road attendances and squad depth.