Celtic are confident of potentially sealing a deal for Norwich City striker Adam Idah over the next few days after the Scottish Premiership champions raised their bid to £6 million.
- Exclusive from Graeme Bailey
With their opening bid of around £4 million rejected all the way back in early-July, the lack of progress in talks over first-choice striker target Adam Idah may have had the Parkhead faithful concerned that last season’s loan star would not be returning after all.
Especially after Norwich City coach Johannes Hoff Thorup said on Thursday that the Republic of Ireland international had his head in the game, focused on the start of the new Championship season.
“(Idah and the other exit-linked players) with the group and they are important,” Thorup said ahead of this weekend’s opener with Oxford United, via the Daily Record. “That’s how it is.
“We have to respect that the window is still open so so many things can happen. We cannot affect what can happen. We cannot affect whether there will be another offer from a club.
“That’s how it is and that’s what I tell the players on a daily basis. Thankfully, they are doing well. They’re performing well, they’re training well and I’d also say that their heads are ready to perform here.”
But while Norwich can have few complaints over Idah’s application in the build up to the new campaign, HITC understands that the Cork-born 23-year-old still has his heart set on a permanent return to the green side of Glasgow.
Celtic confident of signing Norwich City ace Adam Idah
Idah has made it clear to the Carrow Road bosses that he is only interested in joining Celtic. A number of other clubs have expressed their interest but Idah purely has eyes for Brendan Rodgers’ team.
HITC can also confirm that – over a month after their £4 million bid fell short of Norwich’s demands – a new bid has arrived in the £6 million bracket, including add-ons.
Norwich want closer to £8 million. But Celtic are confident that a deal will finally be agreed – maybe in the coming days – with both clubs potentially needing to compromise on their initial valuations.
Idah scored nine goals in 19 games during a superb loan spell in the second half of 2023/24.
Many of those proved vital to Celtic’s Premiership and Scottish Cup-winning success, Idah firing a 90th minute winner past Rangers at Hampden Park while further enhancing his reputation for big strikes at big moments.
Rodgers, meanwhile, has made no secret of his admiration for Idah. He labelled him ‘absolutely immense’ after that Old Firm cup final triumph.
Premiership winner could return to Parkhead
The former Liverpool and Leicester City boss is also determined to add another striker to Celtic’s roster. Kyogo Furuhashi is their only senior number nine at present following the sale of Oh Hyeon-Gyu to Genk, a situation club legend Chris Sutton labelled ‘baffling’ to the Daily Record.
“My ideal scenario would be to have three strikers,” the Hoops boss told the Scottish Sun in late-July, disappointed by Rocco Vata’s switch to Watford having devised a first-team plan for the youngster.
“The plan was for us to have Kyogo, one other and bring through a youngster. That was the role we came up with for Rocco.”
HITC understands that Celtic enquired about Hearts talisman Lawrence Shankland when those Idah talks stuttered. There have also been links with Michel Ange Balikshwisha of Royal Antwerp.
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