Sport

Nicolas Kuhn is the next star off the Celtic conveyer belt

Celtic have reached another level this season and the performances of Nicolas Kuhn have been a big factor behind this. The German winger has registered six goals and seven assists in 14 appearances in all competitions for the Hoops with his recent brace against RB Leipzig in the Champions League particularly eye-catching.

Kuhn joined Celtic from Rapid Vienna in January, but initially struggled to make an impression for the Scottish champions. This season, though, the 24-year-old has become their most reliable difference-maker in the attack with Kuhn the latest star off the conveyer belt at Celtic Park. He is improving with almost every game he plays.

Few clubs have a transfer track record as impressive as Celtic’s. The Glasgow club have a model which sees them identify undervalue talent and develop it. They did this with Virgil van Dijk, Jeremie Frimpong, Kristoffer Ajer, Odsonne Edouard, Ryan Christie and most recently Matt O’Riley who scored on his Premier League debut against Manchester City on Saturday.

The financial reality of Scottish football means Celtic have no choice but to sell themselves as a springboard to talented youngsters with aspirations of reaching an even higher level. This is presumably why Kuhn made the switch to Celtic Park where he has been given the opportunity to play in the Champions League this season.

In Europe, Celtic have made a profound impact this season. The Hoops have claimed victories over Slovan Bratislava and RB Leipzig, also holding out for a credible point away to Atalanta. The 7-1 thumping at the hands of Borussia Dortmund was damaging, but Brendan Rodgers and his players responded well.

As an attacking threat, Kuhn has a game that is well-suited to the top level of European football. The 24-year-old can come inside off the right side. He can drive at opposition defenders or pick a pass through a packed opposition backline. Of course, Kuhn’s eye for goal is demonstrated by the number of times he has found the back of the net this season.

“You have got to give immense credit to the player,” said Rodgers when asked about the impact Kuhn has made this season. “In terms of recruitment, we want to bring in players who are close to what it is we want to do and then our job is to develop them. He is developing really well. He is scoring goals, creating them, and what has been really good is his pressing element.”

Kuhn isn’t the only Celtic player who is developing at a rate that could see them move up the transfer market ladder in the not so distant future. Arne Engels has caught the eye since joining from Augsburg in the summer while Paulo Bernardo clearly has the talent to one day play in one of Europe’s ‘Big Five’ leagues.

Premier League clubs are reportedly already looking at Kuhn, underlining the concern that the German is playing so well that Celtic could get just one season or even less out of their star player. Players who perform in the Champions League like Kuhn has this season tend to attract attention from bigger, richer clubs.

The way Kuhn is going, it won’t be long until he joins the list of former Celtic players that includes van Dijk, Frimpong, O’Riley and the rest, but the Scottish champions can relish the German for the time being for the extra dimension he has given them in attack this season. They will have plenty more opportunities to enjoy him as Celtic target another Scottish title and further progression in the Champions League.