CHRIS SUTTON is sounding a note of caution as Nicolas Kuhn prepares to quit Celtic in a £17.2million move to Serie A club Como.
The German winger arrived in a £3million deal from Rapid Vienna in January 2024 and his 21 goals last season has seen his value rocket.
The Hoops are now poised to pick up more than FIVE times their initial financial outlay and Brendan Rodgers admitted he thought “it was great business all round,” as CQN reported earlier today.
But former Hoops goal hero Sutton isn’t entirely convinced and will hold back his applause until a month or so into the new season.
JUST CHAMPION…Nicolas Kuhn celebrates his goal as Celtic seal the title with a 5-0 win over Dundee United at Tannadice on April 26.
The one-time England international frontman said: “Nicolas Kuhn out of the door for a fortune. That looks like an outstanding piece of financial business again by Celtic.
“Hands up, I didn’t think Celtic would get such an impressive fee for the winger.
“I wasn’t convinced any club would be willing to fork out as much, but Como clearly believe he’s worth that amount. But, regardless of the circumstances, I’d prefer to reserve my full judgement until after the Champions League qualifier is over.
“Perhaps Kuhn’s head was turned, perhaps Celtic think the ready-made replacement is there already in Benjamin Nygren.
“But, whatever the reasoning, I’d say the German leaving at this precise moment represents a risk and it’s now down to Celtic to disprove that notion.”
Sutton, speaking to the Daily Record, continued: “If Kuhn’s exit doesn’t damage the route back to the section-phase of the elite tournament, fine. Then I’ll start dishing out the plaudits.
BRING IT ON…new Bhoy Benjamin Nygren is ready to go.
“On figures alone, Celtic will have done terrifically well to get a profit of around £14 million on a guy who was there for just 18 months and performed at consistently high level for a third of that. say six or seven of those months?
“Maybe that’ll be seen as harsh, but that’s how I see it. Kuhn deserved his time to settle in during the first six months.
“Returning at the beginning of last season. he was dynamite. With a strong pre-season under his belt, the wide man was fabulous both at domestic and European and continued that through until scoring against Bayern Munich in his homeland.
“But after that? He fell off a cliff and a couple of times I can recall he was hooked at half-time by Brendan Rodgers after insipid first-half showings. The Rangers game at Celtic Park being the glaring example of that when Barry Ferguson’s side won.
“So, on the face of it, based on the figures, it’s another wonderful example of the Celtic transfer model working a dream.”
The media pundit added: “However, the profit is a drop in the ocean to the riches available at Europe’s highest level and, if this move backfires, the club will cop it.
“I have to say, I cannot believe for a solitary second that Brendan Rodgers isn’t convinced he’ll be replaced properly and in timely fashion.
FANS’ FAVOURITE…Japanese hitman Kyogo Furuhashi takes to the air as he celebrates one of his 85 Celtic goals.
“The Celtic manager couldn’t hide his enthusiasm for getting back into the top-level of Europe last season and making progress and the motivation of potentially taking that further.
“Rodgers won’t be allowing that quest to be damaged, so you’d have to think succession plans are in place.
“Mind you, I thought that in January when Kyogo Furuhashi was sold and the boss made it abundantly clear he was seeking a replacement.
“The fact one didn’t arrive before the end of the window and before the knockout game against Bayern would have Celtic fans concerned.”
Rodgers, in fact, is STILL looking for another frontman to take the place of the Japanese hitman who left in a £10million deal to Rennes at the turn of the year.
The problem could yet be resolved in this transfer window.
