Even though Celtic signed a striker in January, the long-term thinking of the club is still unclear.
Adam Idah joined on transfer deadline day from Norwich City on a loan deal until the end of the campaign, with no option to buy.
Anthony Joseph stated that whilst it’s ‘strange’ Celtic didn’t include a buy or exclusive option into the deal, it doesn’t mean that they can’t bid for him in the summer, as he told The Celtic Exchange.
Following the arrival of Adam Idah, it now means Brendan Rodgers has Kyogo Furuhashi, Hyeongyu Oh and Adam Idah to pick from as his striker options.
But Anthony Joseph has shared that, when the South Korean star returns from the Asian Cup, it will push Celtic’s loan player down the pecking order.
That means that this small window, up until Hyeongyu Oh returns, is crucial for the Irishman to prove himself because if he does that, then he will be closer to starting because of the team’s indifferent form.
Just going off on the draw against Aberdeen, it was a positive debut from the player and the hope is that continues in these coming weeks and months.
Either way, Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph explained Celtic’s striker situation after Adam Idah’s arrival and what that means in the long-term.
Celtic’s striker options
“I don’t think it means they have someone lined up,” said Joseph on Idah’s short-term deal. “I think what it means is that this is a short-term fix. That’s the only reading we can take into Adam Idah signing on loan, with no option to buy.
“It doesn’t mean we can’t bid for him in the summer if it’s a successful loan move. But they don’t have the first or exclusive option, which to me, speaking as a Celtic fan and an outside observer, that seems quite strange. It’s always nice to have that option if he ends up banging them in and scoring on all fronts. Scoring for the Republic of Ireland in the March internationals, that kind of thing.
“He is just seen as cover for Oh, whilst Oh is away. At the moment, Idah will be seen as the third choice when Oh comes back, unless he starts playing well, doing well in training and pushing himself up the pecking order. That can happen.
“That’s why I felt it was strange that the no option to buy was included, but I guess Celtic just wanted to get the deal done and it was probably from the Norwich end in not wanting to buy. It just allows other clubs to have a better chance with him, if he doesn’t do well.”
Give Adam Idah a start against Hibernian
Celtic will travel to Edinburgh to take on struggling Hibs on Wednesday night and it would be a positive step if Idah is handed a start.
The 22-year-old hasn’t joined to see the bright lights of Glasgow, but to prove that he can score goals for a team like Celtic.
Kyogo is clearly struggling and needs some help. You don’t drop him, but he can play out of position, like he did against Aberdeen in the second half.
The Japan star actually looked pretty good and was far more involved in the game, so that should be something Rodgers should look towards.
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