Chris Sutton has weighed in on the growing speculation surrounding Daizen Maeda’s future at Celtic, urging the Hoops’ hierarchy to back Brendan Rodgers and avoid cashing in on the Japanese forward, no matter the fee. Sutton’s comments come as Maeda continues to shine in a season that has seen him hit 30 goals, cementing his place as the standout player in the current squad.

It’s a position from Sutton that some might find surprising, given Celtic’s well-known tendency to balance the books and sell players at a profit.

But for Sutton, selling Maeda would not only undermine the progress Celtic have made under Rodgers but also risk the long-term future of the Irishman at the Hoops.

Sutton said: (RecordSport), “Maeda has proved this season he is a man who can produce the goods at that level and it’s another reason why there should be a not-for-sale sign on him.

“I get the temptation. Maeda was signed for buttons in the grand scheme of things and must now go down as one of the best value buys since the likes of Henrik Larsson was picked up for £650,000 and Lubo Moravcik was pinched for pennies. He could turn a sensational profit – but that’s not the point.”

“This summer should be about pushing on from a position of strength – not forcing the manager into another rebuild,.

“We don’t know what Rodgers will be thinking going into the final year of his contract. But you can bet selling more of his best players from under him won’t help persuade him to stick around longer.”

“Not when we are talking about the man who is not a certainty to win all the player of the year awards going. Rodgers has proved he can make Celtic competitive in the Champions League and he needs the tools to keep moving forward.”

Maeda’s form this season has been nothing short of sensational. With 30 goals to his name, he joins an elite group of players who have reached that milestone post-Henrik Larsson. While comparisons between the two players may seem early, the fact that Maeda is now being mentioned in the same breath as Celtic’s all-time great is a testament to his development and impact this season.

Having played alongside Larsson during his time at Celtic, Sutton knows just how special the Swedish striker was. To see Maeda now earning similar praise shows just how far the Japanese forward has come. Celtic fans will hope that Sutton’s call for the club to hold on to Maeda is taken, ensuring that Rodgers has the tools he needs to continue building a successful Celtic side in the Champions League next season.