What Norwich Wants From Celtic For Idah Will Almost Certainly Not Be What They Get.

There is something about our media that always makes me smile; their potential for setting up their own next embarrassment. This week offered us a case in point; the stories about how Norwich has set their price for Adam Idah; £5 million plus.

I always love stories like that. Because they are flatly contradicted by the media’s own previous narrative. They know that Norwich can set whatever price they want. Setting the price and getting the price are not the same thing.

And you know how we know that the media is well aware of this? Because they’ve said it, and so has this blog, time and again.

Back in January, when Hearts thought they might have to battle – not that their manager intended to battle very hard – to hang onto Lawrence Shankland, the media pointed out that if he decided to demand the move then Hearts would be lucky to retain him.

Furthermore, they said that the club would be very lucky indeed to get even close to the fee they wanted.

If Norwich has decided to part with Idah, then two things are going to come into play, and neither of them is technically in the hands of the club. Bear in mind, the key feature here is that they want to move him on. If they don’t want to accept a low-ball offer then they won’t, and even if the player wants the move, they don’t have to grand that.

Norwich apparently does want to move him on though. They have no place for him in the squad, and want some money for him. That means they need to rely on the two features that now come into play.

First, a side has to be willing to pay the fee they want.

Secondly, the player himself has to want that particular move, and be willing to accept it.

In the first place, I am sure there is interest in Idah from Championship teams, and I am certain that there will be bids. But will any of those bids reach the £5 million threshold? I wonder. I have my doubts. But even if they do, will Adam Idah want to go and sign for another team in England’s second tier, when there is an alternative move on offer?

If that alternative move is Celtic, under Brendan Rodgers, and if the move includes Champions League football and puts the winning of actual championships on the table? Is he really going to want to sign for a Sunderland or a QPR?

That’s when a decent offer from Celtic might tip the balance.

What would constitute a decent offer? Well, The Record and other outlets have hinted that even a £5 million bid might only be the starting point which Norwich finds acceptable. Celtic will not offer £5 million.

We may offer £4 million, and really, that’s a pretty decent incentive for their club to do business, especially if we put a nice sell-on clause in the deal. I cannot imagine that being turned down, especially if the player has indicated that he wants the move to Parkhead.

I think Celtic will make a bid for Idah and in those circumstances both parties have to be realistic and reasonable.

If they are, he’ll be at the club next season as our player. If they don’t, we’ll move on and so will he.

I am hopeful that a deal will be done.