Brendan Rodgers hopes to tie down Daizen Maeda on a contract extension.
The Celtic star has had a stellar season so far this term and is a player of the year candidate with some considering him to be the runaway winner already.
Maeda is under contract until 2027 at Celtic Park but Rodgers believes the Japanese attacker has earned fresh terms to give him a salary bump and keep him sweet amid transfer interest.
It was first reported last week that Celtic wanted to keep the player and that a new deal would go a long way towards making that happen.
Brendan Rodgers confirms Celtic want Maeda contract extension
And now for the first time, the manager has confirmed he has already spoken with majority shareholder Dermot Desmond about thrashing it out.
Asked if he wants to get the deal done, Rodgers responded: “Absolutely, if there is that possibility to do that. I’ve spoken with Dermot [Desmond] and the club and spoken with the player. Hopefully in the future that is something that can be done.
“He’s been absolutely brilliant for us this season. Wherever he’s played, however he’s played, he’s had an amazing season. So of course you would love to tie up one of your best players.”
Maeda is a stoic character and even when celebrating his goals, the frontman rarely cracks a smile.
What Daizen Maeda thinks about signing new Celtic deal
So Rodgers has found it a tad difficult to read the 27-year-old’s desire to put pen to paper.
“He doesn’t give away much,” Rodgers chuckled. “Other than saying he’s very happy. I look and see how he plays. But listen, I’m also under no illusions here.
“There are very few players that are going to do what Callum McGregor does, some of these players have a lifetime here, like James Forrest.
Some players, especially these players that are from other parts of the world, they might fancy a change. It’s nothing to do with Celtic or the club or the support, it’s just life. But all I can do is judge when he’s here.
“He’s been brilliant here. He’s still contracted well here to the club. But of course there has been chats around improving that for him because he’s grown into one of the top players here. He earns every penny. We feel as a club he deserves more. So we want to do that. But of course it has to work both ways.
