Manager Martin O'Neill has already admitted the Japan international could leave this summer, with Brentford among the clubs credited with interest in the 28-year-old, who might be joined south of the border by team-mate Arne Engels, according to reports out of Belgium.
Speaking on Japanese YouTube show Pivot, Maeda made no secret of his ambitions.
"Since I went to Celtic, I became interested in the Premier League," he said. "I started watching a lot of Premier League games. I have a strong desire to play in the Premier League.
"I watch all the games. When I was in Japan, I didn't watch football at all. But when I went abroad, I was able to watch it in real time. So I naturally watched the Premier League."
Some translations of the show suggested Maeda had described this summer as his best chance to move south, and that he was not concerned about which club he ended up joining. Pushed to expand on his thinking, he added: "I think the higher you go, the better you get."
The forward was central to Celtic's league and cup double last season, scoring 33 goals in the 2024-25 campaign and netting nine times in his final seven matches of the following season. He also found the net for Japan against Sweden at the World Cup.
Celtic turned down an approach from VfL Wolfsburg for Maeda last August, and the club is now better equipped up front having brought in proven Colombian striker Camilo Duran from Qarabag last week. O'Neill told reporters at the weekend there was a "resignation" around the prospect of Maeda's departure, though he said he hoped the versatile attacker would see out the final year of his contract.
Maeda has become one of Celtic's most influential figures since his arrival from Yokohama F. Marinos, and Parkhead sources have long acknowledged a permanent exit has felt inevitable given the interest generated by his club and international form. With his contract offering Celtic a final chance to secure a fee, a resolution is expected before the transfer window closes.