Everton to offer Daizen Maeda an alternative to Celtic

I don't recall this little guy being name-checked by Robert...

Seems more like a winger than a real striker, and would clash with Grealish in terms of his preferred role. And he's been subbed or a sub in more than half of those 11 games so far this season. And his value at TransferMarkt is modest at best.

Brentford were in for him in the summer, as were a few clubs, personal terms were agreed, Rodgers wouldn't let him go.

So he's got the hump, hence the subbing this season. A superb goal scorer for Celtic, would he do it in the Premier League?

Worth a go. Could be our Salah.

The fact that former Celtic star Furuhashi has scored 0 in 8 for Birmingham this season suggests Maeda would not be the answer.

Why’s that, Robert?

Because he like Furihashi is flattered by the abysmal standard of Scottish football.

I know that Scottish football still produces good players now and again -- like most crap leagues -- but at 27 he's not a young player on the up. He's found his level.

Brentford, Fenerbaçhe, Forest and a leading Bundesliga club all disagree with you. Brentford agreed personal terms with him with heavy interest from the others.

I take it you've seen him play, Robert? Because I have, and he'd slot in well for the correct Premier League club.

Technically excellent, quick, with a superb eye for goal. One of the standout players in Celtic's last Champions League season.

I'm going with Thomas Frank, Mourhino, Nuno and my own assessment of him here. Not all Japanese players are the same.

Fair enough Jake.

I suspect he'd look v ordinary indeed in the Premier League and isn't an improvement on what we have already -- but happy to agree to disagree.

His stats before last season are not impressing me but I suppose he could have made a jump and found a way to make it "click" more consistently.

I haven't seen much of him but what little I have seen I'm not sure he fits in with our style, definitely not as a lone ranger up top.

Probably an unpopular opinion considering his shoddy spell at Palace but I'd rather see us take a punt at getting Alexander Sørloth, especially considering our formation and style of play. He's a big, strong lad, with good footwork and decent pace who has improved quite a lot since he was at Palace.

His record show 20+ goals in all competitions in Spain and Europe the last 3 years, as well as scoring every 2nd game for Norway in the last 2 years. He's also quite used to being a lone striker in a 4-5-1 or whatever variation of that formation we play. He's valued about £25M, which is £10M less than what we paid for Barry… a player who has sadly made close to zero impact despite Beto being his main competition.

Per, I can't see Atletico Madrid selling Sorloth for less than £50M. And then you'd have to ask why would he come to Everton? The answer would probably have to be a huge wage.

Barry is struggling probably because he left a very well put together, good footballing Villarreal side that finished in the Champions League spots. Most games he played in last season, Barry was playing in the better side and a side that was creating decent chances. Villarreal of last season are quite a bit better than us.

It's very different for him at Everton. Each game is much more competitive and we're still struggling to find a footballing identity.

Sorry, but I'm getting a Japanese Sandro feeling about this.

Don't desperately buy another one.

Yes please. Cracking little player.

It's very hard to judge players who do well in the Scottish Premiership.

It's a poor league and, even though Maeda has stood out, I don't believe he's good enough for us.

Didn't we get a bloke named Arteta from the Scottish League?

And a bloke named Fergusomething?

And probably a lot more than I can think of off the top of my head.

Eric,

We signed Arteta from Real Sociedad and we got Ferguson from Barlinnie Prison. :-)

Not to mention Alex Young when Scotland produced it's own homegrown.

When I first read the headline, I thought TFG were flexing their negotiating muscle and had offered a Dozen Mazda for somebody... I mean, their all Japanese.

But would he improve what we've got?

Beto and Barry?

Naismith & Jelavic in a fire sale from Rangers.

They both did okay.

James #14, but Arteta had been playing in Scotland, not in Spain.

And Barlinnie is in Scotland isn't it?

Where would we be without Beto's and Barry's goals this season?

Yeah, you got it... exactly where we are now!

Agree this guy could be 'a flash in the pan' or more appropriately, a Japanese Wok, so better to look further afield!