Daizen Maeda is best Celtic buy since Lubo and Larsson and here's why it would be ridiculous to sell him – Chris Sutton

It was a bold statement. Daizen Maeda was asked how he’d follow up his double against Hearts that took his tally to 30 goals for the season and he said he’d score a hat trick this weekend.

He was probably being a bit tongue in cheek but it was a measure of his confidence right now. And a sign of his value to this Celtic team.

Maeda has been outstanding. He’s having one of those special seasons you get from time to time and hitting the 30 mark is no mean feat.

There’s not too many who have achieved it over the years and it’s no wonder his form hasn’t gone unnoticed.

It’s also got some Celtic fans slightly worried. They know how this works. Like it or lump it, Celtic are a development club and they have previous for cashing in when a player is hot.

We’ve seen plenty head out the door for big money and even Brendan Rodgers has admitted recently he’d expect clubs will be looking at Maeda.

The player trading model everyone talks about would suggest he could be sold this summer.

But I would say he simply CAN’T. Listen, I get the model and know it’s been very successful.

There are times though when they have to look at the bigger picture and keeping Maeda at the club would be way more important than taking the money right now.

You can’t keep selling all of your good players. At some point you have to try to keep hold of them and allow the manager to build.

Letting Maeda go now – when he has hit top form – would be ridiculous. Celtic have already let one top striker go in Kyogo – which was a mistake from all parties, as far as I am concerned.

They can’t afford to do it again. Everything might be pretty rosy for Celtic on and off the pitch but this is a huge summer ahead.

We can’t get too far ahead when the title is not yet in