Chris Sutton feels £3 million winger Nicolas Kuhn will be a ‘project signing’ at Celtic as he reserves judgement on the Glasgow-bound former Bayern Munich, Ajax and RB Leipzig man.
HITC Football understands that, after weeks of speculation, Celtic have reached a breakthrough in discussions with Austrian outfit Rapid Vienna.
Talks between the two clubs are now at an advanced stage. Celtic are hoping that Nicolas Kuhn will touch down in Glasgow this weekend too, undergoing a medical before putting the final touches on a £3 million transfer.
Celtic close in on £3m Nicolas Kuhn deal
It’s fair to say, however, that Brendan Rodgers’ track record – at least when it comes to recruitment – leaves a lot to be desired at Celtic.
While predecessor Ange Postecoglou enjoyed far more hits than misses in the Parkhead dugout, the opposite is true of a man who was often accused of ‘stockpiling’ wingers during his first spell in Scotland and now appears to be doing the same, Kuhn joining Daizen Maeda, Luis Palma, James Forrest, Liel Abada and Mikey Johnston.
Celtic legend Sutton, speaking to the Daily Record, is keeping his powder dry with Kuhn. Only time will tell whether the speedy 24-year-old proves to be an inspired acquisition, or the latest in a long line of Rodgers duds.
“Postecoglou was ahead of the game. (Reo) Hatate was, and is, brilliant. Matt O’Riley, no-one was really looking at him either, performing for MK Dons,” Sutton explains.
“Rodgers now needs to be ahead of the game in the same way. (He needs to) find this year’s versions of Hatate and O’Riley. And not, with respect, versions of Jeremy Toljan or Oli Burke.
“Nicolas Kuhn feels project to me. And Rodgers has been quite clear he wants quality and not projects. So will the German be a Daizen Maeda or a Marian Shved?”
Seven assists this season
Kuhn represented Ajax, Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig at youth level. He moved to Austria in the hope of making his name away from the pressure at one of Europe’s biggest clubs. And it’s safe to say he has done just that.
Kuhn, who loves to cut inside from the right onto his left boot, has seven assists to his name this season already.
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