- EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey
Adam Idah is keen to return to Scottish Premiership champions but a deal is far from straightforward with Norwich City holding out for £8 million and their new head coach keen to look at the striker in pre-season.
HITC understands that the Republic of Ireland international, who was such a hit during his loan spell north of the border during the second half of last season, wants to spend next season and beyond at Parkhead too.
Celtic are in talks with Norwich City to find out what would be required to turn Adam Idah‘s temporary deal into a permanent transfer, having learned that another short-team deal – albeit with an option-to-buy clause included – is unlikely.
Brendan Rodgers’ side are hoping that a bid of £5 million may be enough. But Norwich want closer to £8 million, a sizeable gap betwen the fee Celtic want to pay and the fee they may have to pay.
Celtic may need £8m for Norwich City’s Adam Idah
An £8 million deal would make Idah the second-most expensive signing in The Hoops’ history, behind only Odsonne Edouard. Then again, Celtic could still shatter their transfer record this summer anyway with Coaimhin Kelleher – the Liverpool goalkeeper and their number one Joe Hart replacement – valued in the £15 million bracket.
Another obstacle standing in Celtic’s way in pursuit of Idah comes in the shape of Johannes Hoff Thorup. Norwich’s new head coach – the former Nordsjaelland boss replaced David Wagner after the play-off semi-final hammering at Leeds United – is keen to have a closer look at Idah over the summer.
The Cork-born 23-year-old was a huge success at Celtic. Idah scored nine times in 19 games in all competitons, with a couple of ‘big’ goals among them. His 90th minute winner vs Old Firm rivals Rangers in the Scottish Cup final comes to mind, of course. But Idah also helped turn draws into wins in the dying embers against Hibernian and Motherwell too.
Without his well-timed contributions, what turned into a domestic double could easily have ended up being a trophyless campaign.
Brendan Rodgers a huge fan of Ireland striker
“The board know how I feel on Adam. That was the reason for bringing him in,” Rodgers told The Independent after Idah reacted to slam home after Jack Butland’s fumble at Hampden Park. “He’s been a real catalyst for us, especially over the last few months.
“He has all the attributes. He’s fast, dynamic, strong. And I felt, with better positioning, he’d get goals. What he’s done since coming in is show that he’s a goalscorer. He gets different types of goals.
“He has great movement in the box and he deals with pressure moments. (In the cup fina) he was like a real number nine sniffing in and around the box.
“He’s been absolutely immense for us and he’s clearly someone I’d like to do something with. I’ve seen development in him and that’s what the game’s about – players improving. I just know with Adam that he’s got such a high ceiling.”
Idah, should he return, could pave the way for Oh Hyeon-Gyu to depart. The seldom-seen South Korean has been linked with clubs in Belgium.
Celtic’s goalkeeper pursuit does not merely revolve around Kelleher, meanwhile.
Patrick Pentz, one of those reportedly under consideration by the Premiership champions, removed himself from the frame when putting pen to paper on a contract with Danish giants Brondby.
Michael Zetterer, meanwhile, has signed a new deal at Werder Bremen, and is now attracting admiring glances from Manchester City at any rate. And Ugurcan Cakir will take some convincing to leave his beloved Trabzonspor.
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