Wilfried Nancy revealed that keeping Daizen Maeda beyond the current campaign sits high on his festive wish list as he settles into life at Celtic…
The manager is well aware the Japanese forward attracted serious attention during the summer and accepts that further approaches are likely once the January transfer window opens.
However, Wilfried Nancy, speaking at his media conference ahead of Saturday match at Livingston, has indicated the attacker remains happy where he is, and the new Hoops boss would relish the chance to build his side around the influential figure following his first victory in charge – a 3-1 victory over Aberdeen at the weekend.
Maeda is contracted until June 2027, providing a degree of security, and while Nancy has confirmed reinforcements in the forward line are on the agenda, retaining last season’s player of the year at Celtic Park remains a clear priority.
Speaking via Celtic’s official YouTube channel the Celtic manager said: “Yes, for sure, we’d like to keep him and he knows that. I hope that he’s going to stay. He’s really happy here. I knew that he had the opportunity to leave before but for the moment, he’s with us and he’s happy to be here.”
When questioned about where he feels Maeda is best suited to play whether that be up top or down the left-wing, Nancy responded: “Both! He’s not a natural winger, I would say, because he’s able to make the run. Instead of when he starts in the middle, he makes the run on the side to attack.”
“When he starts on the side, he makes the run towards the net. So this is all about this kind of situation. After that, he can be good also as a number nine but he needs players around him.”
Nancy added: “He’s a player who can keep the ball but he likes to make the run, he likes to combine. It’s all about players around him. But also, tactically, he’s really interesting because when I have him on the side, I know that something will happen.”
“Or in behind, or we can use the fact that he’s on the wing to be able to attack through the middle. So it depends.”
Watch Wilfried Nancy’s latest Media Conference below…
Conor Spence
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We are not in a position to even consider selling Maeda in January.
There are times when the club have to play the under contract card, and we find ourselves in such a position at present, regarding Maeda imo?
We already have an injury list consisting of AJ, CCV, Saracchi, Jota, Kelchi and Osmand.
That’s still remains a lot of quality taken out of our squad already, without adding any more.
Add in sinisalo, and the good news for Nancy is, that he already has the basis of a very strong team, for the start of next season imo?
The bad news, is that 5 of them players have already, been named within our europa league squad, and my understanding is that only 3 changes can be made to that squad?
So all this talk regarding the January window, isn’t as straightforward as many are trying to make out, with the contract situations already involved?
Of course there are potential places available to strengthen, for the remainder of this season.
But looking to buy so many, possibly isn’t as straightforward of an option, that many are trying to make out at present either, due to current contract situations regarding players?
Our strongest attraction for attracting players is the prospect of European football, moreso than what the SPFL has to offer.
So any incoming players, will be possibly looking at the guaranteed European squad place for themselves?
Hence loan signings are looking more favourable during January, than a host of permanent ones getting made imo?
So potentially letting players leave, possibly isn’t a situation that is available to a fair few within our squad at present imo?