Coventry City & Ipswich Town should plan swoop after Celtic star's transfer admission | OneFootball

Coventry City and Ipswich Town should look to make moves for Celtic Daizen Maeda this summer

Coventry City and Ipswich Town are preparing for the upcoming Premier League campaign ahead of them after securing promotion from the Championship, with the summer transfer window presenting a huge opportunity to address areas of improvement for both clubs.

Coventry and Ipswich are this year's top two in the English second tier, with automatic promotion to the Premier League having been secured.

The Sky Blues, under Frank Lampard, have managed to get their hands on the Championship title, going up with aplomb, and are set to play top-flight football for the first time in 25 years in just a matter of months.

Ipswich, meanwhile, under Kieran McKenna, secured promotion on the final day with a 3-0 home win over Queens Park Rangers, bouncing back at the first time of asking following relegation just 12 months prior.

Both will be eager to utilise the upcoming window to their advantage as both plan to cement their status in the Premier League, just as Sunderland and Leeds United have done this season.

Improvements across the board will be required, especially in attack, as both clubs should look to take advantage of one Celtic star's current situation after their latest transfer admission.

Coventry City and Ipswich should pounce on Daizen Maeda's Celtic situation after revealing Premier League transfer plans

Coventry finished the season as the Championship's highest goalscorers and with the best defensive record, so any suggestions made for areas of improvement can be considered harsh.

However, with the nature of the jump to the Premier League, Lampard cannot afford to become complacent, and he will be well aware that there is little time for sentiment.

Ipswich need a new striker following Ivan Azon's return to Como after his loan spell, with George Hirst having struggled to fill the void left by Liam Delap's departure last summer.

Celtic's Daizen Maeda has recently opened up on his ambition to play in the Premier League one day, with the 28-year-old looking for a route out of Glasgow, having just played a key role in the Bhoys' title triumph.

The Japanese international said: "I want to take the next step and play in the Premier League, which has always been my goal.

"Right now, I’m grateful to Celtic and I’m giving it my all.

"But I haven’t seen my limits yet.

"The Premier League is a dream I’ve been talking about since I was a kid.

"Even if it’s just for one year, I want to prove just how far my speed can take me at the highest level in the world."

Maeda has had a poor season on a personal level, but recently found a new lease of life when it mattered most, with crucial strikes in all five of their remaining games, with his late deft finish against Hearts enough to secure the title.

It seems almost certain that he has played his 211th and final game for the Scottish outfit, and will almost certainly leave with Celtic supporters' best wishes after his heroics in the latter stages of the season.

Coventry and Ipswich should both consider gambles for Maeda to bolster their attacking options heading into next season, as with his contract set to expire in the summer of 2027, a cut-price fee could likely be agreed with Celtic.

Lampard will need another alternative to Haji Wright and Ellis Simms up top, and McKenna will undoubtedly be on the hunt for another centre-forward over the next few months, as Maeda could be an excellent fit.

With 78 goals and 38 assists in 211 appearances across all competitions for Celtic, averaging a goal contribution just over every other game, Maeda has clearly shown that he knows where the back of the net is during his time in Scotland.

At 28 and capable of playing almost anywhere across the front line, the Japanese international is entering his prime and offers a versatility that both Coventry and Ipswich could make use of, as both should consider a switch.

Frank Lampard and Kieran McKenna will be preparing their sides for the Premier League and should consider Daizen Maeda swoop

Lampard knows exactly what the Premier League is about, having made over 600 appearances in the division as a player, and then over 100 as a manager for both Chelsea and Everton.

The former midfielder has refined his skills as a head coach since joining Coventry, and will have the opportunity to stake his claim in the Premier League with the Sky Blues, and must take advantage of the transfer window.

Ipswich must do the same, as McKenna will have hoped to have learned from his previous mistakes in the top flight last time out.

Maeda could help to cement either sides place in the top tier, as Lampard and McKenna should go head-to-head for the signature of the 28-year-old this summer as they attempt to improve their squads.