Celtic star Nicolas Kuhn is reportedly in talks with RB Leipzig over a move to the Bundesliga, and whilst it would be a blow to lose a player of his ability, the reputed £15 million fee will mark a significant profit on the £3 million shelled out for the German just 18 months ago, and hopefully the fee will be reinvested back into the squad.
Nygren could be a straight replacement for Kuhn
Benjamin Nygren could be a straight like-for-like replacement for Nicolas Kuhn, but we still need to strengthen our squad and all of the fee received should immediately be handed to Brendan Rodgers with the sole aim of adding quality to his team.
The player I reckon that we should be targeting is Mathias Kvistgaarden. The Dane has been on Celtic’s wish-list for some time but our pursuit of the Brondby man has gone rather cold due to the increased £10 -£12 million price tag placed on his head.
Who better than Kvistgaarden?
But with a reported £15 million (at least) heading our way if Kuhn returns home to Germany we could and should be using a massive slice of that to land a player who is starting to gain the attention of clubs throughout Europe.
It’s been suggested that Celtic will spend big to land the right player, and who better than Kvistgaarden? A young talented upcoming centre forward who just recently broke into the Danish international side.
Signing a player of such potential and quality would be a major statement of our ambition going forward, snd hopefully the first of a few more quality additions over the summer.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
Nicolas Kuhn Transfer Fee Debate amid RB Leipzig Interest
Celtic winger Nicolas Kuhn is reportedly on the brink of sealing a move to RB Leipzig, with talks between the two clubs said to be at an “advanced stage.”
The German attacker, who bagged 21 goals and 15 assists in 51 appearances last season, remains a hot property despite a noticeable dip in form during the second half of last season.
Interest in the 25-year-old has been mounting, with Newcastle United also credited with tracking his progress, although that appears to have got no further than three scouting missions. However, RB Leipzig appears to be leading the chase for the winger’s signature.
Valued at €12 million (£10.2 million) by Transfermarkt, Kuhn could fetch a significantly higher fee due to his long-term contract at Celtic Park, which runs until 2029. Sources suggest the final fee “is likely to be at least in line with the market value,” but potentially much more.
Celtic will have their own ideas on the price
Celtic will have their own ideas on the price and if that isn’t met then Leipzig of anyone else can forget getting a massive bargain for a player who has shown that he can excel at the elite Champions League level.
“I have my doubts Celtic would get £15m for the German this summer,” Sutton
Despite the buzz, former Celtic striker Chris Sutton believes the club may find it difficult to command a top-tier fee for Kuhn this summer. Speaking in his RecordSport column, Sutton outlined his thoughts on the matter.
“I have my doubts Celtic would get £15m for the German this summer, for a start. He struggled at first in Scotland as he struggled having lost weight with those dental problems.”
Sutton praised Kuhn’s early-season form, describing it as “sensational,” but pointed to a post-winter dip in performance following a clash with Bayern Munich as a potential red flag.
“It does pose questions about his consistency,” Chris Sutton
“He looked a certainty to clean up the player of the year awards. Yet he did go off the boil a bit… It does pose questions about his consistency,” Sutton noted.
While acknowledging the interest from Premier League sides like Newcastle, United, Chris Sutton questioned whether Kuhn would find playing time easy to come by in England.
“It just seems like the wrong time to be even considering selling,” he argued. “Celtic will struggle to get top dollar and yet I believe he will be worth more down the line.”
That’s what happened with Matt O’Riley last summer
As Leipzig pushes to finalise the deal, the decision could now rest with the Celtic board – cash in now, or bet on Kuhn’s long-term value. That said if the player does want a move his agent will be informed of Celtic’s asking price and the ball will be in the agent’s court to get a club willing to meet the asking price.
That’s what happened with Matt O’Riley last summer. The days of securing high quality bargains buys in the East End of Glasgow appear to be over. And that’s no bad thing.
Peter Brown
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