Celtic’s striker role has been a rather interesting topic of discussion in recent times.
All of it was accelerated by Kyogo Furuhashi leaving Celtic in January, and since then, it has put a bigger spotlight on the number nine position for Brendan Rodgers.
Daizen Maeda went goal crazy during the second half of last season and proceeded to win Scotland’s PFA Player of the Year, but he has started this current campaign poorly.
Whilst the now-departed Adam Idah continued to divide opinion at Celtic, he was sold to Swansea City during the 2025 summer transfer window.
But was it the right call from the Hoops and Rodgers? Peter Grant doesn’t think so.
Celtic’s call to sell Adam Idah over Daizen Maeda
When it comes to being an out-and-out centre-forward, Grant thinks Celtic should have kept Idah and sold Maeda instead.
Celtic’s forward line is now a little imbalanced because Sebastian Tounekti is better off on the left, Kelechi Iheanacho is playing down the middle, so Rodgers has pushed Maeda to the right.
Yes, Idah wasn’t exactly warming the hearts of many Celtic fans, but Grant’s comments on Go Radio might still stir that pot.
“It’s easy sitting here for me to say,” said Grant. “If somebody had come to me and said, ‘as a centre-forward.’
‘I would have kept Adam Idah before Maeda, as a centre forward, there is no doubt in my mind about that. Absolutely no doubt in my mind.
“To be fair, Adam Idah had started the season poorly. You know, I was a supporter of his if he had been given more time.
“But with him going, then, you have to keep Maeda. Even look at it now, and you are thinking, ‘it’s Maeda, Iheanacho, Kenny, and then it’s your next one.’ Shin is never there. He isn’t mentioned. It’s weak there.
“Who is the more natural goalscorer? Iheanacho would probably score the most goals. I think he is a great link player. He will score goals. He is a scorer of great goals, more than a lot of goals, so it’s going to be interesting.”
How has Idah fared at Swansea City since his Celtic exit?
The early start of Idah’s reign at Swansea has seen the Irishman face Ange Postecoglou’s Nottingham Forest in the League Cup – coming back from 2-0 down to win 3-2.
As well as facing Kyogo and his Birmingham City side, and the Republic of Ireland star has done what his former Celtic teammate hasn’t, and that’s net a league goal.
That’s where it stops for Idah, who has mainly been coming off the bench for a Swansea City team currently 13th in the Championship table.
- Idah’s games for Swansea: 7
- Starts: 1
- Off the bench: 6
- Unused substitute: 0
- Goals: 1
- Assists: 1
- Total minutes: 210
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