Wolverhampton Wanderers are preparing a daring January transfer raid for Celtic star Daizen Maeda as new manager Rob Edwards seeks to ignite the club's fight against relegation.
New Era Under Rob Edwards
The appointment of Rob Edwards signals Wolves' determination to address their alarming slide down the Premier League table. In his first interview with the club's media team, Edwards revealed his readiness for the challenge ahead. "I've always been a risk taker," Edwards stated. "Jeff Shi talked to me about a reset moment. There's still 27 games to go for us to do something really special."
Wolves' current predicament represents a dramatic fall from grace. During the final three months of last season under Vitor Periera, the team sat seventh in the form table, accumulating an impressive 23 points from 13 matches. The contrast with this campaign could hardly be starker - Wolves currently sit bottom with just two points from 11 games.
Maeda: The Solution to Wolves' Goal Crisis
The statistics reveal the root of Wolves' problems. The team has managed only seven goals this season, the worst record in the division, compared to 19 during the same period last year. This dramatic scoring drought has made attacking reinforcements the priority for January.
Daiden Maeda emerges as the primary target, with the 28-year-old Japanese international coming off an outstanding season at Celtic where he registered 45 goal contributions. This output doubles what former Wolves striker Matheus Cunha managed during his time at Molineux.
Maeda's credentials extend beyond domestic success, having scored against European giants Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Club Brugge. His finishing statistics place him among elite company, matching the performance levels of players like Viktor Gyokeres and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia when measuring goals scored against expected goals.
The Celtic forward combines blazing speed with technical ability and has demonstrated his creative side by reaching double-figures in assists last season. Despite Celtic's inconsistent start to the current campaign, Maeda maintains an impressive record of contributing a goal or assist every three halves of football.
Fierce Competition for Signature
Wolves face significant competition for Maeda's signature, with at least four other Premier League clubs showing serious interest. TEAMtalk reports that Leeds United, Brentford, West Ham United and Everton are all prepared to meet Celtic's £15 million asking price.
Brentford pose a particular threat, offering the attractions of a London base, better survival prospects and their established reputation for developing players for bigger moves. The other interested clubs face similar challenges to Wolves, though to a lesser extent, while Everton's interest remains uncertain given their existing depth in wide attacking positions.
For Wolves, securing Maeda's services represents more than just a transfer - it's a crucial investment in their Premier League future. The potential cost of outbidding rivals pales in comparison to the £100 million+ value of top-flight survival.
As the January window approaches, Wolves' hierarchy faces a critical test of their ambition. After allowing a managed decline to persist for too long, the acquisition of a proven goalscorer like Maeda could provide the spark needed to rescue their season and secure the club's Premier League status.
