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McManus 'expects' Celtic striker departure amid Daizen Maeda and Giorgos Giakoumakis updates
Celtic will only sell one of Daizen Maeda or Giorgos Giakoumakis this month.
That’s according to former Hibernian striker Tam McManus, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the Japan international’s future.
According to footballscotland (15 January), Southampton scouts watched the 25-year-old in the Celts’ League Cup semi-final against Kilmarnock on 14 January.
The attacker is believed to be high on the list for Nathan Jones’ side after his impressive performances at the World Cup in Qatar as well as his consistently strong domestic performances.
Maeda’s current contract runs until 2026 after completing a permanent transfer in the summer.
Giakoumakis has also been heavily linked with a move this month but McManus can’t see both players leaving Parkhead.
“Maeda was seen as a workhorse rather than a natural goal threat. Since the break, I think he has looked really, really good,” McManus told Football Insider‘s Ben Wild.
“He is playing well at the minute, he scored a great goal against Hibs recently. If Celtic get a big offer for him then they would take it.
“They are the kind of club who buy low and sell high. They would definitely get replacements in for him. I do think it’s really interesting that Premier League clubs are looking at him.
“I didn’t see that six months ago so that shows you how much he has come on.”
“He could leave, anyone at Celtic could leave. We all know that.
“If a bid from a Premier League club comes in you would expect him to leave but I don’t think they sell Giakoumakis and Maeda in the same window.”
In other news, an expert has issued three-word verdict on Albian Ajeti returning to Celtic amid ‘big’ claim.