How Celtic plan to replace Daizen Maeda this summer

Celtic are set to face the daunting prospect of having to replace their star forward Daizen Maeda before the end of the summer transfer window.

The Japan international’s current contract at Parkhead is due to expire at the end of the 2026/27 campaign, which means that interested teams from abroad can start to negotiate terms with him as a free agent from next January.

Martin O’Neill‘s side, therefore, will have to cash in on him in the current window if they want to avoid the risk of losing him on a free transfer next year.

The Japanese forward recently revealed that he wants to take the next step in his career and that he would like to play at a higher level, which suggests that he is open to moving away from the Scottish Premiership.

Maeda racked up 17 goals and ten assists in all competitions for the Hoops during the 2025/26 campaign, which is why his exit from the club would be a big blow for O’Neill.

Celtic are in talks to sign new centre-forward

The 28-year-old forward, who scored in the SFA Cup final against Dunfermline last month, would need to be replaced with a high-quality addition if he does move on from Parkhead.

Now, the Premiership champions are looking at a player who could arrive in Glasgow as the club’s next version of the Japanese marksman in the coming weeks.

According to Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph, Celtic are pursuing a deal to sign Qarabag centre-forward Camilo Duran in the summer transfer window.

The reporter claims that the two clubs are currently in ongoing talks to agree a fee for the Colombian number nine to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch.

Joseph adds that Celtic and Qarabag are both hopeful that an agreement can be reached for the 24-year-old attacker to make the move to Glasgow this summer.

The Sky Sports journalist also reveals that the Azerbaijani club are looking for a fee of around £3m for the striker, but it remains to be seen how much the Hoops will pay for his services.

How Camilo Duran can be Celtic’s next Daizen Maeda

Duran would be an intriguing signing by the Scottish giants because he would arrive from outside of Scotland or one of Europe’s major leagues, and for a bargain fee, much in the same way that Maeda did under Ange Postecoglou.

The Hoops signed the Japan international from Yohohama F. Marinos for a fee of £1.6m in the summer of 2022, after an initial loan spell, and he has gone on to score 79 goals in 212 appearances in all competitions.Now, Duran could arrive in a similar kind of deal to become a success at Parkhead, as another forward who can play out wide on the flank or through the middle as a centre-forward.

Their respective statistics in the 2025/26 campaign across all competitions also suggest that he has the potential to offer a similar level of quality as Maeda at the top end of the pitch.

Both players hit double figures for goals and assists for their respective clubs, which shows that they are both dynamic attackers who can provide a threat with their finishing and their passing.

Five of Duran’s goals in the 2025/26 campaign came in the Champions League for Qarabag, as he scored five goals from 3.41 xG in ten appearances in the competition.

Meanwhile, Maeda failed to score in nine appearances in the Europa League for Celtic last season, and struggled to provide quality on the European stage for the Scottish giants.

There is the potential, therefore, that Duran could be even more effective than Maeda has been in European competitions, if he can carry his form for Qarabag in the Champions League over to Celtic.

Therefore, the Colombian star could be a terrific addition to the squad as a young striker with the potential to score and assist goals on a regular basis.

It is now down to the Scottish giants to reach an agreement with Qarabag to bring him to Parkhead to ensure that they have a replacement in place for Maeda if he goes on to leave the club this summer.