Johannes Hoff Thorup is tipping Adam Idah to one day return to the Premier League, but insisted Norwich City were right to drive a hard bargain before sanctioning his Celtic exit.
Idah finally got his summer long wish to return to Glasgow after winning the league and cup double on loan at Parkhead.
Idah was officially unveiled on Thursday after sealing a deal that will earn City £8.5m, plus a further potential £1m in add ons, and a 15pc sell on fee.
Thorup was keen to keep the striker at the start of the summer, but admitted at Colney it was a win for all parties.
“A good deal for everyone. I know they are happy in Celtic. I know he's happy. And I think also that people around here are happy,” said the Dane. “He's been in the Premier League before, of course, and also scored goals, but I see him as a potential Premier League striker with his attributes, his physique, his power, definitely.
"It was not just something I said in in the beginning of this pre-season that I really wanted him to stay, because I think he is a good striker, and I know they like him in Celtic as well.
“I wish him all the best, and I hope that he can perform well in Celtic. And I hope that he can from there take the next step in his career, because I definitely think he has the skills to do it. I would have wanted him to stay, but I think it fell out in a good way.”
City rebuffed Celtic’s initial approach at the start of a summer, which brought endless speculation and a disciplinary matter when Idah joined up late for an Austrian pre-season training camp.
“That was something that happened. It was not ideal for anyone. But I think what Adam showed afterwards was a good mentality and a good team spirit,” said the Norwich head coach. “He came in with an attitude to show that I'm here to perform for the team while I'm here. He stepped up his game after that situation in Austria, and really tried to make his way into the team.
“At the end of the day, we made a transfer everyone can be proud of; a player who had been here for a lot of years, and contributed well to the team. Of course, he wanted to go to Celtic, which is fair, and we wanted a specific price for him, and we cannot let anyone roll out the door here for free. So then it is all part of the game. I think everyone is satisfied with how it went.
“We will never be swayed and that's important. It's important the way that we work, and the way that we develop the culture that you cannot just decide when you're on a contract here as a player, and it doesn't matter if you're a coach or player or who you are, if you're on a contract, you have to fulfil that contract.
“You can only get out of the contract if there is an offer that everyone can accept. You cannot force your way out. You cannot do anything where that will happen. He had a good reaction to the situation in Austria.
"I think he came back with good energy, he was focused on the team and he really wanted to play at Oxford.”
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