Celtic are reportedly closing in on a potential £3 million deal for Rapid Vienna forward Nicolas Kuhn but one former Hoops ace is surprised to see Brendan Rodgers target yet another winger.
During his first spell at Parkhead, Rodgers often faced criticism over his recruitment strategy. Particularly with regards to Celtic’s apparent stockpiling of talented wide forwards.
When Maryan Shved arrived in January 2019 from Ukranian football, for instance, he joined James Forrest, Scott Sinclair, Jonny Hayes, Daniel Arzani, Mikey Johnston, Tim Weah and Oliver Burke in Glasgow.
And Mark Wilson, a three-time Scottish Premiership champion in the mid-2000s, feels that history may be repeating itself as Celtic close in on a deal to land Nicolas Kuhn from Austrian outfit Rapid Vienna.
Celtic are closing in on Nicolas Kuhn deal
“It’s not a position I thought was a priority,” a bemused Wilson tells Clyde SuperScoreboard. “You always go back to Brendan Rodgers’ first time when he said they had a million wingers.
“When I count the wingers just now, (Liel) Abada, Yang (Hyun-Jun), (Daizen) Maeda, (Luis) Palma, Mikey Johnston, James Forrest…
“Ok, some of them might be on the way out. But I didn’t think (Kuhn) would be Rodgers’ first signing.”
According to the Scottish Sun, Kuhn has secured a work permit ahead of his potential £3 million move to Scotland. Formerly of Ajax, Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig, the 24-year-old has seven assists this season while cutting in to excellent effect of the right.
As far as Wilson is concerned, however, there is no obvious place for Kuhn in Rodgers’ current roster, although that could change if Abada departs amid interest from some of Europe’s more high-profile clubs.
Rapid Vienna ace could cost £3 million
“(Celtic already have) six wingers. And all of them have played a part this season,” Wilson adds. “I would suggest Abada will go right back to the top of the pecking order when he’s back, Maeda off the other side, and Palma then filling in either of those positions.
“Yang seems to be in Rodgers’ plans. Johnston, Forrest… I’m not sure how much more game time they will get at Celtic.
“If you had to add Kuhn to it, you’re kind of stockpiling wingers. It’s a different story if he comes in and bowls everybody over and becomes an automatic starter. But, in years gone by, we’ve seen players come in and be on the periphery.
“I thought he would have gone for a striker first. I didn’t think he’d go for a winger.”
Celtic could yet bring in a centre-forward too, with Sydney van Hooijdonk and Matthias Kvistgaarden among those linked. HITC Football understands Hearts talisman Lawrence Shankland is also under consideration.
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