Yardbarker
Yardbarker
x

Daizen Maeda has emerged as the top-valued player in the Scottish Premiership following a standout season with Celtic, according to Transfermrkt

After a sensational 33-goal campaign, the Japanese forward swept both the PFA Scotland Players’ Player of the Year and the Scottish Football Writers’ Association awards, highlighting his dominance across the season.

Maeda kicked off the campaign as an energetic wide player, relentlessly pressing opponents, covering defensive ground, and consistently delivering with goals and assists.

He also stepped up to lead the line in place of his compatriot Kyogo since January, easing the transition after his departure to Rennes. Morphing into a fine number nine, Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has quite the headache whether to keep Maeda up front or play him on the wing next season.

Celtic are keen to secure the 27-year-old on a new deal amid expected transfer interest, though with two years remaining on his current contract, it would take a significant bid to tempt the club into a sale this summer.

Transfermarkt appears to back that view, having recently refreshed player market values throughout the Scottish Premiership. Maeda now leads the pack with a market valuation of €15 million [£12.8m], marking a €4 million rise from his estimate at the start of last season.

Celtic players occupy every spot in the top five, with Cameron Carter-Vickers, Reo Hatate, Arne Engels, and Nicolas Kühn all trailing just behind Maeda.

Nicolas Raskin is the highest-ranked player out-with anyone from the Scottish champions, landing in sixth with a market value of €10 million [£8.5m].

Alistair Johnston comes next on the same valuation as Raskin, with Lennon Miller from Motherwell, Mohamed Diomande of theRangers, and Jota completing the top ten.

Miller, alongside Maeda, is among the league’s most significant risers, with his value increasing by €4 million. Meanwhile, Danilo, theRangers forward, has experienced the largest drop in the Premiership, with his market value decreasing by €2 million.

Rather surprisingly Reo Hatate, perhaps the best midfielder in Scotland last season, didn’t make the top ten. Nice to see Jota in there though!

Remember no paywall and content that is 100% written by actual Celtic supporters – that’s what you get on The Celtic Star. And our books are also written by Celtic supporter, order both volumes of Celtic in the Thirties by and save a tenner! Link below….

Conor Spence

Summer sale now on! £5 off all books at Celticstarbooks.com/shop

This article first appeared on The Celtic Star and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST

Top Micah Parsons landing spots as Cowboys' contract talks deteriorate
NFL

Top Micah Parsons landing spots as Cowboys' contract talks deteriorate

The relationship between superstar pass-rusher Micah Parsons and the Dallas Cowboys doesn't appear to be improving. ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reported earlier in the week that the two sides were moving backward in their contract negotiations. On Friday, Parsons posted on his social media that he had requested a trade out of Dallas. However, The Athletic's Dianna Russini claimed the Cowboys have "no intention" of trading him. Given this information, let's take a look at three landing spots that make the most sense for Parsons. Denver Broncos The Broncos allowed the third-fewest amount of points in 2024-25 (311 points), per ESPN stats, and already have one of the best defensive units in football. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw, safety Talanoa Hufanga and cornerback Jahdae Barron were added to the group this offseason, so why not continue to bolster? Denver owns all of its upcoming draft picks over the next three years, which could be used in a package to acquire Parsons. They are also set to have a ton of cap space available for 2026 and 2027, enabling them to put forth the contract offer that Parsons is seeking. With three more seasons of quarterback Bo Nix on a rookie deal, the Broncos could take advantage and go all in on the superstar pass-rusher, making a potent front seven that much more dangerous. Los Angeles Chargers The team that allowed even fewer points than the Broncos last season? The Chargers (301 points). Head coach Jim Harbaugh immediately righted the ship defensively upon his arrival, but there remain holes to fill. They've shed plenty of money in recent years, which included a former third-overall pick from 2016 in DE Joey Bosa. It's now time to use that cap space to bring in a difference maker on defense. Like Denver, Los Angeles holds all of its own draft picks from 2026 through 2028 and is capable of putting the pieces together to pry Parsons out of Dallas. Not only could the Chargers compensate the 26-year-old, but it's likely he would be fine with calling Los Angeles home. New England Patriots The Patriots currently have the most cap space in the NFL and are in a prime position to strike at any moment. It's been a difficult last few seasons in Foxborough, but the vibe has changed with new head coach Mike Vrabel taking over. The Patriots culture is back, and it's now up to the front office to provide Vrabel with more talent on both sides of the ball. New England is in desperate need of a game-breaking player. Parsons fits the mold perfectly. The Pats had a league-worst 28 sacks last season, per ESPN stats, so the pass rush could use some help. General manager Eliot Wolf is well-equipped with draft capital to feel comfortable making such a move.

Erik Karlsson's Trade Demands to the Penguins Release Publicly
NHL

Erik Karlsson's Trade Demands to the Penguins Release Publicly

Erik Karlsson is one of a few Penguins likely on the move soon, and now the one thing the veteran blue liner wants in a new team has been officially revealed. After missing the Stanley cup Playoffs for three straight seasons, the Pittsburgh Penguins come into this off-season as sellers, with the trio of Rickard Rakell, Bryan Rust and Erik Karlsson becoming notable names in trade speculation. While all three have a high likelihood of being moved as Kyle Dubas and the Penguins look towards the future, NHL Insider Frank Seravalli has suggested this off-season that Karlsson is the most likely of all to be moved in the summer. Now, Seravalli has followed up on the speculation, revealing another key piece of this scenario, as the veteran NHL Insider notes the one demand that Karlsson has in potential trade talks. According to Seravalli, Karlsson wants a chance to win, and given the contract that a team would potentially need to take on to bring him in, it's safe to say that only contending teams out there would be interested, with very little in it for teams that won't be chasing a Stanley Cup in the near future. As of right now, there are very few teams around the NHL that could fit Karlsson in as well as giving him the opportunity to win, with Detroit, Dallas and Carolina three teams that fit the bill, with all three having rumoured interest in an upgrade on their blue line. Ultimately, all the signs this off-season point to Karlsson being moved at some point before the 2025/26 campaign begins, and while the options are limited given his contract and his desire to win, there's no reason why a trade can't be made in the next few months.

Lakers reportedly monitoring two-time All-Star's availability
NBA

Lakers reportedly monitoring two-time All-Star's availability

The Los Angeles Lakers finished last season with a dud after propelling to the third seed of the Western Conference, losing to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs. The one thing that the Wolves exposed was the Lakers' lack of an inside presence. The center spot was weak once they traded Anthony Davis for Luka Doncic midway through the season, but they found a way to manage despite putrid numbers coming from the center position. The Lakers were bottom five in both rebounds and points per game for centers during the regular season after the All-Star break. However, in the postseason, the numbers got worse. They tried to use their original starting center, Jaxson Hayes, to man the paint, but he only played 7.8 minutes per game while only scoring 1.8 points and grabbing two rebounds per contest. This team knows it needs extreme levels of help for the center spot, which is why it is reportedly looking at a former All-Star center's situation. Anthony Irwin of ClutchPoints reported that the Lakers are closely monitoring the situation between Nikola Vucevic and the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls have shipped out several key players over the last year, with Vucevic being the lone former All-Star still on the roster. As his trade market winds down, some have speculated that a potential buyout is on the horizon. However, Chicago Bulls insider K.C. Johnson reported on "The Fastbreak" podcast that the Bulls have no intentions of a buyout and would like to move him for assets at the trade deadline. Vucevic would be a massive upgrade alongside Deandre Ayton, whom the Lakers signed earlier in the offseason. Vucevic put up very impressive numbers last season, averaging 18.5 points and 10.1 rebounds per game while shooting 53% from the field in 73 games. His career numbers are just as impressive, and he's a former two-time All-Star as well. The Lakers should continue to monitor Vucevic and assess the Bulls' ultimate plan for him. With Ayton already in the fold, a trade for Vucevic could put them at the top of the Western Conference.

Matt Campbell finalizes program-friendly contract extension with Iowa State
College Football

Matt Campbell finalizes program-friendly contract extension with Iowa State

A big-name coach secured his future with a Big 12 football program by making an unselfish act. Per Max Olson of ESPN, Matt Campbell agreed to a contract extension with Iowa State that will keep him in Ames through 2032. He took a program-friendly discount to keep a top staff and allocate $1 million in rev-share funds. "Iowa State and coach Matt Campbell have finalized his extension through 2032," Olson posted on X. "He’ll earn $5 million per year in total compensation. "The 3x Big 12 Coach of the Year took a discount on the deal to ensure his staff pool increased and allowed ISU to allocate an additional $1 million in rev-share funds for football, sources told ESPN." Campbell has been linked to big coaching jobs in the recent past, including in the NFL. He met with the Chicago Bears for their head coach opening this winter before they hired Ben Johnson. Campbell, 45, took over at Iowa State in 2016. He's gone 45-36 with the Cyclones. Iowa State went 11-3 last season and were one win away from making the College Football Playoff, as they made the Big 12 championship but lost to the Arizona State Sun Devils 45-19. Keeping Campbell in Ames is a no-brainer for Iowa State. He's helped keep the Cyclones relevant during his nine seasons with the program. Campbell was smart to take a discount, allowing the Cyclones to stay competitive in recruiting. ISU is the second head coaching gig Campbell has had in college. He went 35-15 during his five seasons at Toledo. He was named MAC Coach of the Year in 2015.

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!