There are a number of Celtic players who could head for transfer exits this summer window.
Martin O’Neill hopes Daizen Maeda may walk of out Celtic as a free agent next summer - as four players could leave the Premiership champions this summer.
The Japanese international has been linked to Premier League duo Nottingham Forest and Everton as heads into the final year of his contract. Boss O’Neill also has some resignation that midfielder Arne Engels will be heading out the door too after rejected January bids from Forest over the Belgian international.
Reo Hatate ended last term on the Parkhead fringes and is another that O’Neill feels may seek pastures new with Benjamin Nygren interest likely after a strong first term in Hoops. Speaking as Celtic embark on a Portuguese training camp, O’Neill is hopeful of Maeda running down his contract, amid the Everton and Nottingham Forest chatter.
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Who may depart Celtic this transfer window?
He told the Scottish Sun: “I believe there's some resignation about Daizen in that aspect. It isn't one of those where he's still got a year left to run, and we want to try and make something of it in the sense of getting money. It's not that at all. Personally speaking, I would love it if he just let his contract run through and played for the last year.
"That would be super. I don't know whether that's in Daizen's mind or in his agent's mind. If I go back, Henrik Larsson told me a year before that it was going to be his last year. His contract was up at that stage and he was fantastic for us in the final season. But he made it clear that's what he was going to do. Henrik had his time. The only difference is Daizen has a year still left to run. That's all. But it's not one of us trying just a non-starter for the club at that particular stage.
"Then Arne got injured not long after that. So if some things can happen a bit earlier maybe there's some resignation on my part there too. At this minute I don’t think anything has happened. Where it carries on up towards the end of the window then suddenly something happens you’re not ready because it’s happening too late. All those bids Nottingham Forest made came in on the 11th hour so that was just a non-goer for us at that particular stage.
Daizen Maeda of Celtic FC with Reo Hatate of Celtic FCplaceholder image
Daizen Maeda of Celtic FC with Reo Hatate of Celtic FC | Getty Images
Could Reo Hatate leave Celtic this summer?
“Then he got injured just after that. So if some things can happen a bit earlier then maybe there’s some resignation on my part there too. Reo has done exceptionally well at the club since he arrived. People have said he might even have been the best player in Scotland two or three years ago. He's probably looking to maybe see if there are any new pastures for him.
"I'll see how it goes with him when he's here. During this particular time it's a bit unsettling for players so you just don't know. Let's just see what options might be around. But if nothing develops, then I'd be very happy to keep him. Benji’s stats are very high so there’s every possibility something could happen there.”
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