An absolute steal- Sutton names Celtic’s priority summer signing

Chris Sutton has identified Celtic’s first summer signing- loan bhoy Adam Idah.

Announced in the final hour of the January transfer window there was no fanfare for the arrival of the Irishman which seemed to be down to the arrival of Sydney van Hooijdonk at Norwich City.

‘Third choice striker’ was among the politest reaction to the Idah deal from Celtic fans that had hoped Brendan Rodgers would get his wish with four quality arrivals.

A week after arriving Idah scored with two penalties against Hibs and suddenly Celtic had a very different attacking option, he followed that up with another double, at Motherwell and suddenly the January window didn’t seem so bad after all.

Goals at Hibs and Motherwell are all well and good but there is one fixture that all players are measured in, at Ibrox on Sunday Idah was only given half an hour but made his mark on the Glasgow Derby.

Assessing his contribution, Sutton told Daily Record readers:

You look at the impact Adam Idah had when he came on. There’s an argument he should have been introduced sooner, but he put himself about and was unlucky not to be the match winner.

I thought some of the criticism of Jack Butland was harsh as it was a tremendous finish from the Irishman for the third goal, through the defender and right down low towards the keeper’s leg. If it wasn’t for Rabbi Matondo’s sublime equaliser, Idah would have gone down as an Old Firm hero.

As it was, he has only added to his case for a permanent transfer this summer. That’s six goals in just nine games for Idah – and only six starts– and I’m sure Norwich City fans will be wondering where it’s come from.

I don’t. I’ve always said he has ability and sometimes it just needs a change of scenery for a player to spark into life. By all accounts Idah was the one who really pushed for the move to Celtic and he’s really grabbed his chance. It wasn’t easy when he came in but he’s won over a lot of supporters.

There was some talk when he arrived that it would cost around £3m to get him on a permanent deal and if that’s the figure this summer, it would be an absolute steal. Idah has shown he can bring something different to the attack. Kyogo will always be the main man when fit, but it’s important to have a different option in certain games or coming off the bench.

When you consider some of the cash spent on strikers at Celtic in recent years, that would be small change to land a player who still has more developing to do and plenty of potential. If Idah does the business in the remainder of the campaign it would be a crying shame not to buy him.

Getting Idah for £3m would be a steal in the current climate. In the summer of 2022 Celtic spent £6m each on Cameron Carter-Vickers and Jota, at that level you get a certain standard of player with Idah’s contribution to date suggesting that a similar fee would be money well spent.