It is safe to assume that the first game of the 2025/26 Scottish Premiership season did not go precisely how defending champions Celtic hoped.
However, replacement Luke McCowan finally broke through in the 87th minute, blasting a shot from the edge of the box that deflected into the bottom corner.
They were a fortunate deflection away from dropping two points on the season’s first day, which Brendan Rodgers will not have been thrilled about.
The summer transfer window is open for a few more weeks, and the Hoops could see more inbound activity, since they appear to require attacking reinforcements.
Adam Idah’s position in the starting XI is uncertain due to anticipated transfer activity, following his poor performance against St Mirren.
Why Adam Idah’s starting spot is at risk
The slow pace of Celtic’s signings this summer has given the Ireland international a great opportunity to demonstrate the boss that he has what it takes to be the key number nine this season.
Unfortunately, he failed to deliver against St Mirren on Sunday, as the former Norwich City forward produced a horribly wasteful performance, as shown in the picture below.
It is fair to argue that the Irish number nine has yet to demonstrate that he possesses the clinical finishing ability to be a consistent striker for the Hoops this season, as evidenced by his 19 ‘big opportunities’ squandered in 19 Premiership games last season.
This is why Idah’s starting status on the team is in jeopardy because he must demonstrate that he can be ruthless with the opportunities that come his way during games.
| 24/25 Premiership | Adam Idah | Percentile rank vs STs |
|---|---|---|
| xA | 2.60 | Top 11% |
| Chances created | 19 | Top 25% |
| Pass accuracy | 76% | Top 19% |
| Assists | 0 | Bottom 3% |
| Touches in the opposition’s box | 144 | Top 9% |
| Possession won in the final third | 14 | Top 15% |
| Stats via FotMob | ||
However, as shown in the table above, the Ireland international possesses a lot of creative qualities that sometimes go unnoticed due to his finishing issues and a few mistakes. Idah is not ideal, which is evident, but he is also not useless to Rodgers.
His creative statistics from the 2024/25 league season indicate that the Hoops should surround him with clinical finishers capable of capitalizing on the opportunities he provides.
The former Canaries star still needs to improve his finishing and demonstrate that Rodgers can rely on him in front of goal, but the manager can do his part to help the forward reach his full potential by bringing in goalscoring midfielders around him.
This is why the Northern Irish manager should press the board to complete a move for Go Ahead Eagles player Jakob Breum before the summer transfer window closes.
Celtic have turned down several offers for the Danish midfielder, who is valued at £5 million by the Eredivisie club, and they should put up the money to bring him to Parkhead to unleash Idah’s creative potential.
Why should Celtic sign Jakob Breum
One of the numerous reasons why the Hoops should pay up to get Breum to Glasgow before the September transfer deadline is because he is a versatile player who Rodgers can employ in a variety of places.
In his club career, the Denmark U21 international has started at least 11 games as a central midfielder, right winger, attacking midfielder, and left winger, indicating that he can play behind Idah or another striker.
Breum, at the age of 21, would likewise be regarded as a young player with the ability to mature and improve during his time in Glasgow. This means that he would be a signing for both the present and the future, given his potential for further development.
His performances for Go Ahead Eagles in the Eredivisie during the 2024/25 season indicate that he has the potential to be an exceptional addition for Idah.
Breum, who was nominated for the Netherlands’ young player of the season award, is a merciless finisher with the potential to capitalise on the Irish forward’s brilliance.
| 24/25 Eredivisie | Jakob Breum | Percentile rank vs AMs |
|---|---|---|
| xG | 6.27 | Top 8% |
| xG on target | 8.35 | Top 5% |
| Shots on target | 22 | Top 7% |
| Goals | 10 | Top 5% |
| xA | 5.60 | Top 8% |
| Assists | 5 | Top 17% |
| Chances created | 44 | Top 7% |
| Stats via FotMob | ||
As shown in the table above, the Danish forward ranked extremely high in a variety of goalscoring categories in the Dutch top division, outperforming his xG in terms of both shot quality and goal tally.
These statistics indicate that the 21-year-old star, labeled as a “exciting” talent by Sport Republic video scout RDF Tactics, would be the ideal attacking midfielder to help Idah reach his full potential as a creator.
As previously stated, the Irish striker was one of the most creative players in the Premier League last season, but he was not rewarded with the assists he deserved. Based on his performance last season, Breum is a player who could capitalise on the opportunities created by Idah.
Along with his ability to deliver quality as a finisher, the £5 million-rated star was also highly regarded for his own creative output, and could provide high-quality opportunities for Idah to assist him overcome his finishing struggles.
Overall, Celtic should be looking to recruit the Go Ahead Eagles player because he has the potential to be an offensive acquisition who can compliment Idah’s style of play, thus enabling the Irishman keep his spot in the starting lineup.
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