Hoops have agreed deal a three year deal to sign top Rangers target with 25-goals this season

Hoops have agreed deal a three year deal to sign top Rangers target with 25-goals this season

Ironically, the Dutchman’s eventual move to the UK allowed for the arrival of a new centre-forward at Parkhead.

Sydney van Hooijdonk joined Norwich City on loan from Bologna last month, allowing Adam Idah to relocate north of the line.

But how close was the former to joining Celtic before signing with Brendan Rodgers’ side on deadline day?

Speaking with Anglian website the Pink’ Un, Van Hooijdonk confirms that negotiations did take place in the summer of 2023.

However, despite widespread conjecture, they would not be reconsidered in the first weeks of 2024.

Celtic held Sydney van Hooijdonk talks.

“To be honest, I didn’t speak with Celtic this winter,” admits the former Heerenveen talisman,

who is allegedly valued by Bologna at £4 million and has an option to buy in his Norwich deal.

“You see a lot of things, but this winter I didn’t talk to them. Yes, last summer there was some.

Celtic is a fantastic club, and I am a fan as well.

“But the Championship, and joining a Norwich team competing for the play-offs, was fantastic.

This league competes at a higher level than that league.

“So I’m really happy to be here.”

Adam Idah gets a blazing start under Brendan Rodgers.

Van Hooijdonk, whose affinity for the green-clad Glasgow giants stems from his father Pierre’s time with The Hoops in the 1990s,

scored 19 goals on loan at Heerenveen in 2022/23 but struggled to gain a regular berth at Bologna over the in-form Joshua Zirkzee.

Celtic veteran Peter Grant believes that a lack of game time in Italy was a crucial factor in Celtic’s decision not to rekindle their interest in January.

When it comes to midseason signings, guys who can hit the ground running are typically selected.

Rodgers then chose Idah, who had played consistently for Norwich in the first half of the season.

On Wednesday night, Idah added to his record of five goals in five Scottish Premiership games,

following up his match-winning brace at Motherwell with another goal in Dundee’s 7-1 defeat.

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