Celtic’s waiting game with Adam Idah has become the story of the transfer window amid Brendan Rodgers’ desire to bring him back to Parkhead.
Last season, the Republic of Ireland international registered nine goals in 19 appearances on loan at the Bhoys before returning to parent Norwich City.
The Canaries internally disciplined Idah for turning up late to meet up with their squad in pre-season. This led to a pocket of supporters booing the 23-year-old in their recent friendly with St Pauli.
Johannes Hoff Thorup left the striker out of facing Hoffenheim last month. Nevertheless, he has since revealed the Cork-born man should be part of his plans when Norwich take on Oxford United this weekend.
More talks between Celtic and the Sky Bet Championship outfit are mooted to have taken place over Idah. However, there is still no clear indication of whether he will move north of the border permanently, creating a waiting game for Hoops boss Rodgers.
John Hartson’s verdict on the Adam Idah situation
Speaking on the Go Radio Football Show, John Hartson believes that Norwich have been ‘taking the mick a little bit’ in negotiations between themselves and Celtic due to the fact Idah wasn’t always a first-choice for the Canaries before his loan move to Celtic.
He explained: “Idah was fantastic, by the way; he was really, really good when he came in. Nine goals in 19 appearances, and not all of them were starts; I thought he scored some really big goals for Celtic. Really important goals when you need your centre-forward to come in.
“Now he’s gone back. I’m a little bit aggrieved with Norwich because he wasn’t in the team, he was on the bench. Celtic gave him a bit of a platform to go and make a name for himself and to give him game-time, which he wasn’t getting a lot at Norwich.
“Now he’s done really well; you half expect it because clubs do get as greedy as they can to try and get as much out of the players as they can, but to be asking reportedly £6.5/7/8 million, and he’s only been playing for six months really regularly in the first-team. I know it’s business but I’m a little bit aggrieved by that, I think they’re taking the mick a little bit for me.”
Celtic need to come to a resolution on Adam Idah
With the transfer window ticking down, Celtic must find an endpoint in the Idah saga or risk being left with little time to find an alternative centre-forward.
Hyeongyu Oh’s departure has left Kyogo Furuhashi as the only senior forward on the books at Parkhead. The situation cannot be allowed to continue for too long; what happens if the Japan international picks up an injury?
Having a potential scenario where Celtic are left with no natural forward available for selection is unfathomable. Daizen Maeda could fill the void, but his injury leaves questions to be answered.
The Parkhead faithful are waiting on tenterhooks for confirmation on Idah, and the club can ill-afford to falter in their pursuit.
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