Udinese considering £9m move for Celtic striker Adam Idah

According to Tutto Udinese the Serie A club have identified Idah as a potential replacement for Lucca due to his physical profile, goal-scoring record, and international experience.

Here’s what they had to say –

‘Among the names that Udinese is following to strengthen the attack after the departure of Lorenzo Lucca to Naples there is also that of Adam Idah.

Irish striker of Nigerian origins, born in 2001, Idah plays in Scotland with the Celtic shirt and last season he scored 20 goals (including three in the Champions League) in 54 appearances overall.

The player, who arrived in the green and white last summer for about 10 million euros from English Norwich, also boasts 32 appearances with the Irish national team, with a total of five goals. Idah has a contract with Celtic until 2029.’

Idah has predominately been a first rotation option to Kyogo and then latterly to Daizen Maeda, but he has played regularly as a starter and a finisher for Celtic in both domestic and European fixtures.

Celtic, unless we have a shiny new striker in the pipeline, are under no pressure to sell and would probably be mad to at this juncture. But then we thought that about Kyogo, before he left for Rennes just before a Champions League play off, and Nicolas Kuhn, who was sold when we all assumed we had one, ideally two replacements, lined up. But so far it appears we had no such firm plans in place.

Surely however, if we can’t sell Marco Tilio due to a lack of numbers in the attacking third, we certainly can’t afford to sell Idah either.

Idah joined Celtic on a permanent basis from Norwich City last summer, following a successful loan spell. The club reportedly paid £8.5m for our Republic of Ireland international and signed him to a long-term deal through to 2029. He has settled quickly in Glasgow and has become a regular feature under Brendan Rodgers.

With the new Scottish Premiership season beginning this weekend, Idah is expected to lead the line for Celtic against St Mirren on Sunday.

We have signed Shin Yamada and he looked very promising indeed in his pre-season run out against Al Ahli, but it’s a risky business assuming a striker who arrived with a good reputation, but in the midst of a scoring crisis, could be expected to kick off the season as Celtic’s first choice striker.

Brendan Rodgers has been clear about his plans to strengthen his forward options, not reduce them, and he views Idah as central to those plans.  Moving him now — especially without a high-quality replacement in place — would be both risky and counterintuitive to Celtic’s short-term ambitions, particularly with Champions League qualifiers approaching.

While Udinese’s interest is possibly credible, the timing and context of Celtic’s current squad planning make a transfer this window unlikely.

Unless there is a dramatic shift — such as a significant offer or a new striker arriving at Celtic Park — Idah appears set to remain in Glasgow for the foreseeable future, and that is the only sensible decision at this stage.

Here’s how Sandman rated Adam Idah’s season in his Definitive Season Review….