Nicolas Kuhn Transfer Fee Debate amid RB Leipzig Interest

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 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.

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.

“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.”

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.

Help raise funds for Celtic Youth Academy by playing the Celtic Pools Weekly Lottery and you could win up to £25,000. The lottery is £1 per week. Click on image above to join.