Norwich City manager Johannes Hoff Thorup played hardball with Celtic this summer before letting Adam Idah leave permanently.
The 35-year-old and Canaries’ sporting director Ben Knapper drove a hard bargain in negotiations over the Republic of Ireland international, earning themselves a £9.5 million fee inclusive of all bonuses and add-ons.
Celtic fans won’t be too bothered about the small print; their side has landed an immensely talented striker who delivered crucial goals in crunch moments last term.
Idah has earned his move to the reigning Scottish Premiership champions; if people want to dissect the finer details of the deal, then fair enough, but if he keeps performing on an upward trajectory, chatter will soon become irrelevant.
With the Corkonian now primed for action ahead of a congested fixture schedule for Celtic, here is what Thorup had to say on his departure.
Johannes Hoff Thorup addresses Adam Idah’s move to Celtic
In dignified fashion, Thorup wished Idah all the best on his move to Celtic while revealing that he could potentially see the Irishman one day plying his trade in the Premier League due to his skillset.
He stated [Daily Record]: “I think it wasn’t perfect against Oxford, but he came in with an attitude to perform. He stepped up after the episode in Austria. I think we can be proud of the transfer; he has been here for a while. He wanted to go to Celtic, which is fair. I wish him all the best.
“When you are on a contract here you have to fulfil that contract. Unless there is an offer that’s acceptable.
“You cannot force your way out. I see him as a potential Premier League striker with his attributes and power. I wish him all the best and hope he can perform well at Celtic FC. I would have wanted him to stay.”
Both parties have got themselves a good deal
I don’t think anyone can dispute that both Celtic and Norwich City have got themselves a good deal. Idah is happy to be back in a place where he shone last term while his old club have the funds to reinvest in their squad.
As for the Bhoys, they have a man who can come up with match-winning moments ready to challenge Kyogo Furuhashi for his place in the side, a strikeforce most clubs in the country would love to have.
The main thing now is a sense of clarity for all involved. Ear-wringing speculation is good for nobody, especially not supporters waiting on tenterhooks for information.
Idah is at Celtic, and the deal is finally complete. Hopefully, he can play some part in this weekend’s Premier Sports Cup tie when Hibernian come to town on Sunday.
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