Daizen Maeda‘s troubles at Parkhead continued after he failed to provide a goal or an assist in Celtic‘s 1-0 win over St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s goal was enough to secure all three points for Martin O’Neill‘s siide in Glasgow, but their Japanese forward once again struggled at the top end of the pitch.
The Japan international has not scored a goal for Celtic since their 4-0 win over Dundee United at Parkhead on 10th January, and he has not provided an assist since the 2-2 draw with Bologna in the Europa League on 22nd January.
He has drawn blanks in the final third in each of the last 15 matches in all competitions, failing to register any goals or assists, and he did not even register a shot in the clash with St Mirren.
Maeda played the full 90 minutes against the Saints at the weekend and ended the game with one key pass, zero shots attempted, and zero dribbles completed.
What Celtic should do with Daizen Maeda this summer
The 28-year-old attacker’s current contract at Parkhead is due to expire at the end of next season, and he has not done enough on the pitch to suggest that the club should reward him with an extension.
|
Most big chances missed in 25/26 Premiership |
|
|---|---|
|
Player |
Big chances missed |
|
Daizen Maeda |
22 |
|
Youssef Chermiti |
15 |
|
Tawanda Maswanhise |
14 |
|
Claudio Braga |
13 |
|
Martin Boyle |
11 |
In the 2025/26 Premiership season, Maeda has scored seven goals from 12.48 xG for the Hoops, missing 22 ‘big chances’, and that is the biggest xG underperformance in the division.
With his poor finishing throughout the campaign and his lack of output in the final third since January in mind, Celtic must decide to cash in on the Japanese forward when the summer transfer window opens for business.
His performances have not been up to par in the Premiership this season, particularly as a finisher, and his contract status means that this summer would be the perfect time to move on from him.
Whilst Maeda should be sold in the summer, there is another current Celtic player who has been even worse than him and should be nowhere near the starting line-up again.
Worse than Maeda: Celtic’s biggest underperformer should not start again
Even though his output in the final third has not been good enough, Maeda does still provide value with his work rate and pressing against defences, which means that he can still be a valuable starter in the short-term before leaving in the summer.
Tomas Cvancara, however, has not delivered good enough performances in the final third or with his general play for the Hoops, which is why he should not be near the starting line-up again this season.
The Czechia international is fast becoming the new Albian Ajeti at Parkhead. Celtic signed the Swiss striker for £5m in 2020 and he scored an underwhelming nine goals in 48 matches before leaving.
Like Ajeti, Cvancara has underwhelmed in front of goal for the Scottish giants. The Borussia Monchengladbach loanee has only scored two goals in 13 appearances for the club, and one of those came from the penalty spot.
Since he scored his only open play goal against Falkirk in February, the 25-year-old attacker has not scored an open play goal in any of his last 11 appearances in all competitions.
Despite his Ajeti-esque struggles in front of goal, Cvancara was selected by O’Neill to lead the line against St Mirren on Saturday, and he was even worse than Maeda.
|
Vs St Mirren |
Maeda |
Cvancara |
|---|---|---|
|
Minutes |
90 |
62 |
|
Big chances missed |
0 |
1 |
|
Key passes |
1 |
0 |
|
Big chances created |
1 |
0 |
|
Pass accuracy |
76% |
50% |
|
Progressive carries |
6 |
0 |
The Czechia international only completed five of his ten attempted passes and did not create a single chance for his teammates, whilst he also missed a ‘big chance’ to find the back of the net.
Maeda, despite his own struggles, was fairly reliable as a passer and did create a ‘big chance’ for the team, which shows that he was not completely ineffective.
Cvancara was an even bigger underperformer for the Hoops on the day and his general form since signing for the club in January does not suggest that his performances are likely to improve any time soon.
That is why O’Neill must not have him anywhere near the starting line-up again this season, before sending the new Ajeti back to Gladbach in the summer.
Celtic already working on signing replacement for star who might’ve played his ‘last game’
He may well have donned Green and White for the last time.
