- EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey
Celtic look set to make an attacking addition to their squad with Norwich City forward Adam Idah on his way to Celtic Park.
HITC Football understands that Celtic and Norwich have reached an agreement for the 22-year-old Irish international.
The deal will be a straight loan move until the end of the season with no option to buy the young forward.
However, both clubs will review the situation in the summer depending on how his loan goes.
Norwich have allowed Idah to leave having agreed a deal for Bologna striker Sydney van Hooijdonk.
The 23-year-old Dutch striker will also sign on loan but the Canaries will have an option to make the move permanent at the end of the campaign.
Celtic agree loan deal for Norwich forward Idah
Brendan Rodgers’s side are in a slightly precarious position at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
They have a five-point lead over rivals Rangers but they still have a game in hand.
It means with 15 league games to play, Celtic will potentially need to win every single match to guarantee winning the title.
The Bhoys only have two natural centre-forwards in the squad right now.
Kyogo Furuhashi has been sensational since his move to Scotland and back-up Hyeon-gyu Oh is a decent alternative.
Adam Idah offers Celtic an alternative up front and leaves Norwich after a solid Championship campaign.
Idah offers Rodgers an attacking alternative
The 29-year-old Furuhashi hasn’t been able to follow up his incredible campaign last year this season, but still has eight league goals and three assists.
Furuhashi is an exceptional poacher and scores freely with both feet.
However, he’s not the most effective player in the air, winning just 20% of his aerial duels.
Not only that, he’s only scored one league goal with his head this season and that’s where Idah comes in.
His old teammate and Celtic alumni Teemu Pukki has been very complimentary about the Irishman’s ability in the air.
He previously said to Norwich’s official website: “Adam is great in the air and I’m not.
“It gives us another option whenever we are under pressure to play it long.”
Striker market could have gone very differently for Celtic
Celtic securing Idah on loan from Norwich is a good move and offers Rodgers a much-needed alternative against teams who are weaker in the air.
However, things could have gone very differently considering Van Hooijdonk linked with a move to Parkhead this month.
Instead, the Dutchman’s switch to Carrow Road is allowing Rodgers to bring in Idah.
The 22-year-old has plenty to prove and while he’s only scored six league goals this season, in a team as dominant as Celtic, he could finally fulfil his full potential.