Will it be back to back league titles for the veteran Martin O’Neill in charge of Celtic? Time will tell for the Hoops, but they do need to get a move on in their pursuit of a 57th crown.
It has not particularly been a rip-roaring start to the window for the Bhoys who are navigating difficulties in the transfer market. They are on the verge of losing Daizen Maeda to Premier League side Ipswich, which would no doubt be a big blow for the Premiership champions.
They have also failed to re-sign Kalechi Iheanacho so it’s all hands to the pump in their bid to replace not just him but also goalscoring hero, Maeda.
Speaking of Celtic heroes, Football FanCast chatted exclusively to former winger Aiden McGeady to discuss how the summer is playing out for the Parkhead side.
He was in conversation with FFC on behalf of BetBrain. Here’s what he had to say…
With Daizen Maeda leaving Celtic, how big of a blow is it for O’Neill?
AM: “It would make a massive impact. In previous years, Celtic have been known for selling players for profit. Celtic have got an amazing model, they have had for a number of years, but too often it’s been a case where they let players go without bringing replacements in.
“We’ve seen that when they let Adam Idah go and they never had a replacement in. So I think Celtic need to be careful this season with what they do. I think losing Maeda was inevitable at some point. It’s going to happen because Celtic’s model is a selling club. They bring players in, they develop them on, they give them a platform to win things, but they will move on.”
“I think Maeda was patchy last season, but towards the end of the season he was fantastic.”
Does Maeda compare to anyone you played with?
AM: “I think Maeda is fantastic off the ball, he’s 100 miles an hour, sprints, he presses, he causes so many errors. His goalscoring record over the last three seasons has been very good.
“To compare him to someone I played with. I don’t know if you remember Zurawski? He is quite similar to him I think. Very quick, presses well, alive in the box but technically, you wouldn’t say he was fantastic, but will score goals.”
Elijah Just is leaving the Premiership for Swansea, would he have been a good signing for Celtic?
AM: “He is a very very good player. I saw him a lot last season for Motherwell. I think with his performances at the World Cup, he was out of Celtic’s range. When you play well at the World Cup, it does bring other clubs into the mix. Celtic would have to spend a lot of money on him and they don’t often pay big money for a player in the SPFL.”
What are your thoughts on Iheanacho not coming back to Celtic?
AM: “I think sometimes sentiment comes into it because of how well he did at the end of last season, so the fans definitely wanted him back. He’s someone that I would definitely have had back.”
