Adam Idah looks set to be the next Irishman to make the move to Celtic Park, with reports on Tuesday evening linking the 22-year-old with a loan move until the end of the season.
The rumours suggest that Corkman Idah will join Celtic on loan, with the Scottish champions having an option to buy the striker at the end of that loan term.
With Celtic fans crying out for fresh investment in the January transfer window, they have only made one signing thus far. With Thursday marking the end of the transfer window, there now appears to be a scramble in Glasgow to bring in fresh talent as Celtic hope to hold off rivals Rangers for the league title.
Idah has been with Norwich since he was just 15 and made his senior breakthrough during Norwich's season in the Premier League in 2019-20. The time since has seen the Canaries yo-yo up and down from the Premier League, and has seen Idah make his break with the Ireland national team.
Though the move to Celtic is undoubtedly an exciting one for Idah, club legend Chris Sutton has concerns about the demands that will be placed on the young forward in Scotland.
READ HERE: Report: Celtic Reject Unexpected Loan Move For Out-Of-Favour Irish Midfielder
READ HERE: Hamann Shoots Down Dunphy Suggestion On Jurgen Klopp's Future
Chris Sutton cool on Adam Idah to Celtic links
Sutton played for Celtic for six seasons in the early 2000s, winning four SPL titles and starting the UEFA Cup final in 2003. Intriguingly, given he has commented on Adam Idah's prospective move between the clubs, he also began his senior career by spending four seasons with Norwich.
7 September 2023; Adam Idah of Republic of Ireland in action against Lucas Hernández of France during the UEFA EURO 2024 Championship qualifying group B match between France and Republic of Ireland at Parc des Princes in Paris, France. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
There are significant parallels there and, writing as Idah's departure appears to become more of a reality, Sutton expressed his fears for the Irishman.
Sutton said that the added scrutiny at a club like Celtic could weigh heavily on Idah - and that he would have a serious task at hand to displace the club's existing strikeforce:
If they can get a deal sorted, all parties should shake hands, wish each other well and move on. Celtic is going to be a very difficult and different experience for him, if that gets finalised. You have to robust mentally to cope with life in Glasgow.
My fear is that Idah will struggle to displace Celtic’s other strikers and isn’t any better than Oh Hyeon-gyu. He is a development player and I’m not sure that is what Celtic need either right now. I really hope he knows what he is getting himself into.
Though Celtic fans have been seeking fresh investment in the team throughout the transfer window, one man's place in the team cannot be debated. Kyogo Furuhashi has established himself as the club's leading striker, and it's hard to see anyone displacing him from that position.
With young Korean striker Oh Hyeon-gyu having recently joined, Idah is landing himself in an extremely competitive environment.
As for the decision to leave Norwich behind Sutton said he, like many fans, would be left with a sense of "what if?" by Idah's four seasons at the club. The Englishman said he felt Idah had never fully realised his potential at Carrow Road and that the club would be sad to see him go, even if the timing seemed right for both parties:
I've done so many columns on Idah over the years. He has so much going for him; he's strong, quick and has a great physical profile, but it always feels like he could give more. He doesn't throw his weight around enough.
I'm not sure many Norwich City fans would struggle to disagree with the decision to let him go.
Both parties will likely feel dissatisfied with how it has gone, but there does come a time when he's had enough opportunities, and he's not made it happen for himself.
Should the move be completed, Adam Idah will join the existing cohort of Irish talent at Celtic Park.
International teammates Liam Scales and Mikey Johnston are both part of the first-team squad, while hopes are high that youngster Rocco Vata can break into both the senior setup at Celtic and with Ireland in the coming years.
The transfer deadline day is on Thursday, so we will know by then where Adam Idah will be playing his football for the remainder of the season.
SEE ALSO: Kerry GAA Legends To Face Kingdom Soccer Legends In Charity Match
