Exclusive: Celtic could sign “crazy” Idah alternative who’d be their most expensive buy since Jota

Before the summer transfer window officially opens for business at the end of this month, Celtic might be looking to bolster their attacking options.

Hyeon-gyu Oh, one of the Hoops’ forwards, has been linked to a move away from Parkhead, so it looks like the team may be ready to let him go.

Under Brendan Rodgers, the South Korea international was considered the third choice at number nine. According to reports, Belgian powerhouse Genk launched a £4 million approach to sign him.

Football Insider reported earlier this month that, given rumours of a move to England, the Scottish powerhouses might be open to cashing in on Yogo Furuhashi for an offer of about £25 million.

According to these sources, Celtic’s top players may see significant changes between now and the end of August, when the transfer market closes.

The Hoops have now learned how much one of their striker targets would cost them this summer. Kyogo and Oh leaving Parkhead would allow other players to enter and strengthen the attack.

Celtic discovers asking price for ultimate goal

The Daily Record has reported that Brondby has placed an eye-catching €10 million (£8.5 million) price tag on center-forward Mathias Kvistgaarden, according to Austrian website VICTAURI.

According to the outlet, RB Salzburg dispatched scouts to observe the young marksman in action during the 2023–24 season since they are interested in recruiting him.

However, it claims that the £8.5 million valuation has turned the Austrian powerhouses away from a possible deal, perhaps eliminating them from the competition for his signature.

The Danish attacker has been a long-term goal for Celtic, according to The Daily Record, as the team has shown interest in him throughout each of the last two transfer windows. It would be the club’s largest transaction since they paid £6.5 million for Jota if they moved for that amount.

They also cite an earlier story stating that in the summer of 2023, Brondby rejected a bid from the Hoops of more than £4 million.

In order to secure the 22-year-old marksman and strengthen their attack in time for the upcoming season, the Scottish powerhouses will now need to shell out much more than £4 million.

It is now unclear if the Bhoys are willing to bargain with Brondby to lower the asking price or if they are ready to pay the £8.5 million asking price.

However, Rodgers might get a fantastic replacement for Adam Idah this summer if they can work out a deal with the Danish team for his signature.

Celtic’s Adam Idah’s form

For the second half of the 2023–2024 season, the Hoops signed the Ireland international on loan from Norwich City, an English Championship team. According to the Daily Record, the Yellows will demand a sizeable payment in order to sign him permanently.

He had an immediate impact at Parkhead and had a wonderful few months with the team, helping them win the SFA Cup and the Scottish Premiership. He even scored the winning goal in the latter competition’s final.

In the ninetieth minute of the championship game at Hampden Park, in what might be his last game for the team, Idah was the first to respond to a poor parry from Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland. He pounced and fired the ball into the back of the net.

Despite not being a regular starter, the Canaries loanee was still playing fantastically for Rodgers in the Premiership, showcasing his clinical tendency in front of goal.

In the top level, he scored eight goals in 15 games—just five of which came as a starter—and was far more effective than Kyogo in the attacking third of the field.

Based on minutes played, Idah scored much more frequently and had a much higher conversion percentage, as the table above illustrates.

The Norwich teenager scored more goals than he missed “big chances,” demonstrating his proficiency in front of goal, whereas the Japan international missed ten more “big chances” than he scored goals.

It is important to keep in mind, though, that this was a small sample size and that there is no assurance that Idah would be the first option to score every 76 minutes for the duration of the season.

Why Mathias Kvistgaarden would make a fantastic Adam Idah substitute

As a youthful, gifted center-forward who may be Rodgers’ long-term option, Kvistgaarden could be the ideal substitute for the Ireland international.

The 22-year-old genius, who talent scout Jacek Kulig previously praised for being in “crazy” shape, may have more to offer at Parkhead than the 6 foot 3 striker because of his creative skills in addition to his goal threat.

The Danish dynamo has accrued 11 assists in 33 league appearances since the 2022–23 Superliga Championship Round began. This attests to his creativity from a central position and demonstrates that he is not a selfish striker.

Kvistgaarden may provide the team with significantly more creativity as a creator than Idah, who has only six assists in 134 club first-team appearances, as the following table illustrates.

While the Irishman scored eight goals in 15 games, the Dane scored eight in 24, which is less than the Irishman’s eight goals in 15. Nevertheless, his youth record indicates that he has what it takes to become a brilliant goal scorer.

Kvistgaarden scorched a whopping 31 goals and 11 assists in 45 games for Brondby at the U19 level, demonstrating that if he can keep adjusting to first-team play and continue to be a productive goalscorer, he might potentially reach similar levels.

Because of his potential as a scorer and his demonstrated ability to be a creator, the 22-year-old star might be an incredible and ideal substitute for Idah this summer.

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