John Hartson’s Scathing Critique of Norwich City’s Valuation of Adam Idah
Former Celtic player and current pundit John Hartson has launched a scathing attack on Norwich City’s valuation of striker Adam Idah, labeling it as “taking the mick.” Hartson’s comments come as Celtic continues to pursue a permanent deal for the 23-year-old Irishman, who impressed during his loan spell at Parkhead last season.
Hartson’s criticism centers around Norwich’s reported valuation of Idah, which ranges from £6.5 million to £7.5 million. The former Celtic striker believes that this price tag is excessive, considering Idah’s limited playing time and experience. Hartson argues that Celtic gave Idah a platform to showcase his skills and gain valuable experience, and that Norwich is now being greedy by asking for such a high transfer fee.
“It’s taking the mick, if you ask me,” Hartson said in a discussion on Go Radio. “Celtic gave him a platform to make a name for himself, gave him game time which he wasn’t getting a lot of at Norwich. Now he’s done really well, you half expect it because clubs get as greedy as they can and try and get as much out of the players as they can.”
Hartson’s comments highlight the complex nature of transfer negotiations, where clubs often engage in a game of cat and mouse to secure the best possible deal. While Norwich may be seeking to maximize their profit from Idah’s sale, Celtic is eager to secure a permanent deal for a player who has already proven himself in the Scottish Premiership.
The situation is further complicated by Celtic’s need for a new center forward. With Rocco Vata opting to move on and Oh sold to Genk, Kyogo is currently the only recognized senior center forward at the club. Brendan Rodgers has admitted that he wants to sign two new strikers to compete with Kyogo, and Idah is clearly one of his top targets.
Hartson’s desire for Celtic to sign another center forward is rooted in his belief that the club needs to strengthen its squad for the Champions League. While Celtic has dominated Scottish football in recent years, the Champions League presents a different level of competition, and Hartson believes that Rodgers needs to bring in quality players to compete with the best teams in Europe.
“I hope the club don’t think they’ve got enough domestically,” Hartson said. “Because they have got enough domestically, but I’d like to see Brendan Rodgers bring in some quality to add to the quality they already have. In the Champions League, you need that quality.”
The debate surrounding Idah’s valuation has also sparked a discussion about the merits of other potential targets, including Aberdeen’s Bojan Miovski. Hartson has previously advocated for the Macedonian striker, but admits that he has been impressed by Idah’s performances.
“I said Miovski last year, but Idah was fantastic,” Hartson added. “He was really, really good when he came in. I thought he scored some real big goals for Celtic, really important goals when they needed a center forward to come in.”
As the transfer window enters its final stages, Celtic’s pursuit of Adam Idah remains a top priority. While Norwich’s valuation may be a sticking point, Hartson’s comments highlight the importance of securing a permanent deal for the Irishman. With the Champions League looming, Celtic needs to strengthen its squad, and Idah’s signing would be a significant step in the right direction.