The Celtic and Adam Idah reality after new bid submission

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Celtic are preparing to visit Hibernian this weekend and thankfully there has been news on the transfer front in the build-up to the trip.

Yesterday, the Hoops submitted a fresh bid for Adam Idah and there is hope a deal can be done. Discussions are ongoing, and Norwich City would be willing to accept an overall package of £8 million for the Republic of Ireland international.

Structurally, it isn’t clear yet whether Celtic’s latest offer would meet their threshold. Nevertheless, there is renewed optimism that the transfer saga can finally end in a successful outcome.

Idah came up with some monumental moments during his loan spell last season, not least his penalty double at Easter Road, brace against Motherwell and strikes against Rangers at Ibrox and Hampden.

Without his contribution, Celtic may not have claimed a domestic double. That is why Brendan Rodgers has pushed for his arrival, but it also may signal that the Bhoys are starting to embrace the changing transfer realm.

Celtic and paying the going rate for targets

There isn’t white smoke with Idah yet, but if Celtic’s offer submitted is around the £6-8 million range, there is a lot to be taken from recent developments.

Over the years, supporters have voiced their frustration at the club not paying the going rate for targets. Negotiation is an art in football; it is always necessary, but you can understand the sentiment of some fans who want their team to recruit players swiftly.

Is Idah worth, say, £8 million? In my book, yes, he has proven why Norwich have the right to demand a substantial fee. Conversely, there will be plenty of people out there who think he isn’t. Football is a game of opinions; not everyone is going to think along the same lines.

My point here is that the landscape of the market and the global game is changing. Everything in the sport has gone up, from player wages to agent fees, the cost of being a fan, you name it. Surely, that logic also applies to transfer fees. That’s a reality some have to accept when scanning the headline figures.

As fans, it is easy to get bogged down in the numbers. I tend not to think so much about the monetary cost of the player but the worth of the asset you get from their exploits on the pitch. Idah is as tried and tested as they come; he literally delivered in a Celtic shirt a matter of months ago.

Supporters pay for season tickets, merchandise, and more; they want to see their investment put to good use. As long as Idah delivers if any prospective deal is completed, the amount paid for him will eventually become irrelevant if he continues stepping up in crunch moments.

That goes for future potential incomings, too. Money in the bank is there to enrich Celtic; if you need to pay that little bit extra, so be it.