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Tottenham will have to pay over £25million to sign SPL goal machine this summer
Tottenham are among a few clubs interested in signing Celtic’s goal-machine Daizen Maeda
Tottenham Hotspur are looking to get their house in order after appointing Thomas Frank as their new head coach.
So far, the club have announced the permanent captures of Kevin Danso and Mathys Tel. There is still a lot of work left to do if Spurs are to become competitive in both Premier League and Champions League next season.
Reinforcing the attacking unit has to be among the club’s top priorities after several forwards underperformed this past campaign. Son Heung-min showed signs of decline, and with him set to turn 33 next week and already in the final year of his deal, the club bosses are considering cashing him in. Wilson Odobert and Richarlison barely managed to make an impact due to their respective injury issues.
Last summer’s marquee signing Dominic Solanke endured a stop-start debut campaign in North London, failing to replicate the form he showed at Bournemouth. But it is worth noting that the England international picked up some form during the business end of the campaign as Spurs won the Europa League.
There is a clear need to bring in a new striker that would keep Solanke on his toes next term and compete for a spot in Thomas Frank’s starting XI. As such, it was reported earlier this year that Tottenham were interested in signing Celtic striker Daizen Maeda.
Daizen Maeda appears to be a man in demand after an impressive campaign with Celtic. The Japanese international was the standout performer for the Hoops, netting 33 goals last season as Brendan Rodgers and Co. claimed a domestic double. Tottenham remain interested in the player, and now an update on his valuation has been dropped by a reliable transfer insider.
According to Football Insider senior correspondent Pete O’Rourke, Celtic are in no rush to sell Daizen Maeda this summer but it will take offers of no less than £25m to even contemplate selling their prized asset. Apart from Tottenham in the Premier League, Brentford and West Ham are also interested, while Turkish side Fenerbahce remain keen.
“I don’t think Celtic would be prepared to entertain offers for him – he’s been a revelation”, Pete O’Rourke said on Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast.
“Maeda is such a key player for this Celtic side. Brendan Rodgers will be looking to build around him, not lose him – definitely not, unless it’s huge, huge money.
“You’d be looking at £25million plus, to even make Celtic think that they should cash in on Maeda. It doesn’t surprise me that there’s Premier League clubs looking at him.
“It doesn’t surprise me that Brentford are looking at him. There’s also been talk that Tottenham, West Ham, Fenerbahce are all admirers of the Japanese International.”
33 goals in all competitions playing for Celtic easily warrants £25million plus price tag for Maeda. The 27-year-old became Rodgers’ main man in attack in the wake of Kyogo Furuhashi’s departure to French club Rennes, and he delivered the goods consistently at Celtic Park. So, it is but obvious there is going to be interest from different leagues.
More Tottenham Hotspur News:
- PL rivals rejected improved £55million Tottenham bid for wantaway star
- “Far more likely”- Tottenham might wait until ‘later in the window’ to sign relegated star on a free transfer
- Update: Tottenham chairman holds direct talks for ‘world-class’ London star; Spurs eager to land him quickly
Tottenham need a quality back-up for Solanke, and Maeda at 27, fits the billing perfectly. The idea to challenge himself in one of the most competitive leagues across Europe should excite the Japanese sharp-shooter while it would also allow him to get more recognition than he’s been getting in Scotland. For a striker in the peak of his powers, Spurs must not hesitate to splash over £25million and get Maeda in before more clubs starting circling.
