With the January switch window on the horizon, it may properly show to be a nervy month for these of a Celtic persuasion, with speak already rife concerning vital curiosity in rising celebrity, Nicolas Kuhn.
Reportedly on the record for the likes of Premier League aspect Brentford – amid options of a £25m price tag – the German has caught the eye after a surprising begin to the marketing campaign, scoring ten objectives and offering an extra 11 assists in simply 17 games in all competitions.
Having been signed for roughly £3m again in January this yr, the Hoops look set to make a major revenue on the 24-year-old within the close to future, albeit amid the hope of protecting the wing wizard on board for a very good few years but.
Debate over whether or not or not the previous Fast Vienna star will go away within the winter is probably for an additional day, with it as a substitute greatest to rejoice the influence that Kuhn is making within the right here and now.
Celtic – Prime scorers by season |
|||
---|---|---|---|
Season |
Participant |
Video games |
Targets |
2024/25* |
Nicolas Kuhn |
17 |
10 |
2023/24 |
Matt O’Riley |
49 |
19 |
2023/24 |
Kyogo Furuhashi |
50 |
19 |
2022/23 |
Kyogo Furuhashi |
50 |
34 |
2021/22 |
Kyogo Furuhashi |
33 |
20 |
2020/21 |
Odsonne Edouard |
40 |
22 |
2019/20 |
Odsonne Edouard |
47 |
29 |
Reward ought to most actually be directed towards the recruitment workforce and supervisor Brendan Rodgers, with the membership having loved a good few hits out there of late, regardless of some early misses…
Rodgers’ latest Celtic signings
The Northern Irishman’s second stint in cost at Parkhead started in auspicious trend, with the summer window in 2023 taking place like a lead balloon.
Amongst these signed, Gustaf Lagerbielke has since been shipped on mortgage to FC Twente – with Hyeok-kyu Kwon additionally now at Hibernian – whereas Marco Tilio returned to Australia sooner than you might blink.
Equally, each Maik Nawrocki and Odin Holm have nonetheless but to settle after making simply four appearances combined this time period, whereas Luis Palma has additionally tumbled down the pecking order after starting just two games to this point in 2024/25.
These will be the negatives, however it has been a largely optimistic story since then, with Kuhn arriving in January, earlier than the likes of Kasper Schmeichel had been added in the latest window.
The skilled Dane – who was acquired on a free switch – has since kept 11 clean sheets in simply 18 outings in all competitions, whereas forward of him, younger loanee Alex Valle has slotted in easily, with three assists to his name already.
Extra will probably be anticipated of £9.5m man, Adam Idah, in assault, after a return of simply five goals thus far, though within the midfield ranks, the Matt O’Riley void has been considerably stuffed with the additions of Arne Engels, Paulo Bernardo and Luke McCowan.
One additional seize that actually raised a couple of eyebrows was that of Auston Trusty, however the former Sheffield United man is swiftly repaying his £6m transfer fee.
The Celtic star who’s on par with a £68m sensation
Celtic supporters could have been fearing a Lagerbielke or Nawrocki repeat when Trusty rocked up in Glasgow over the summer time, with the centre-back ranks having endured one thing of a merry-go-round of late.
Early performances had been hardly too inspiring both, with the US worldwide trying uncomfortable lining up in a proper centre-back berth, within the absence of compatriot Cameron Carter-Vickers, having notably been a part of the aspect that shipped seven away in Dortmund.
That mentioned, ever for the reason that heroic efficiency in Bergamo towards Europa League holders, Atalanta – which pundit Frank McAvennie described as his “best game for Celtic” – the lanky left-footer has seemed way more composed, having ousted the dependable Liam Scales because the beginning accomplice to Carter-Vickers.
The Premiership could not at all times present the strongest check, however Trusty has proven his class, after which some, on the Champions League stage, having additionally been “phenomenal” within the deserved 3-1 win over RB Leipzig earlier this month, as per Chris Sutton.
It’s performances like that which have ensured that the one-time Arsenal man – who notably shackled a certain Benjamin Sesko when dealing with the Bundesliga aspect – now ranks as the highest defensive centre-back exterior of Europe’s high 5 leagues, as per the nice minds at CIES Soccer Observatory.
Apparently, that high ten record additionally consists of Sporting CP sensation, Ousmane Diomande, with the Ivorian starlet inserting simply behind Trusty in third, having additionally dazzled in Portugal of late below Ruben Amorim’s watch.
Why is that this vital? Nicely, it’s value noting that Diomande – like Kuhn – is courting the eye of golf equipment throughout Europe, with the likes of Arsenal and Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur each chasing the 20-year-old, who boasts a £68m release clause in his contract.
Once more, it’s not as if the Outdated Agency aspect will – or ought to – be considering making a potential revenue on Trusty so quickly into his Parkhead stint, but that comparability to Diomande illustrates the influence he’s making in his new environment.
A £68m valuation is fanciful for the American machine, however what might be mentioned is that maybe the centre-back’s £6m price not seems that hefty. As an alternative, if present performances are something to go by, it may show a cut price.
Associated
He’s outscoring Kuhn: Rodgers could land his next Dembele at Celtic
Celtic are believed to be out there for an additional centre-forward