Daizen Maeda is closing in on a dream move to the Premier League after Ipswich Town agreed a £10million deal in principle with Celtic. Record Sport can exclusively reveal that discussions have progressed over the past 24 hours over an initial £8m fee that could rise to £10m with add-ons.
Maeda's Celtic career nears end
Maeda, 28, has yet to report back to Lennoxtown after being given extra time off due to his World Cup exploits with Japan. But it looks almost certain that the fans' favourite has played his final game for the club, with talks now at an advanced stage over a switch to newly-promoted Ipswich.
The Tractor Boys are currently in Spain for a warm-weather training camp in La Manga as they prepare for their first season back in the English top-flight. It's unlikely that Maeda's move will be officially confirmed until they return, but the Japanese sensation is expected to undergo a medical later in the week.
Maeda's Premier League ambition
Maeda, who saw a big-money move to Bundesliga outfit Wolfsburg fall through last summer, has made no secret of his desire to test himself down south. Speaking to Japanese TV programme PUSH Sports, Maeda even pleaded with Hoops chiefs to drop his price tag to facilitate a move away from the club. He confessed: "I wish it would go down even more. If it goes down, it will be easier for me to transfer teams. So I don't want it to go up."
The Double-winning hero, who is in the final year of his contract, now looks set to get his wish as he pulls down the curtain on a glittering four-and-a-half years at Parkhead.
