
Celtic recently confirmed their first signing of the summer transfer window when they unveiled left-back Kieran Tierney as the newest arrival to Parkhead.
The Scotland international is joining from Premier League side Arsenal on a free transfer when his contract with the Gunners expires at the end of this month, six years on from his move to The Emirates in 2019.
Tierney, as you can see in the graphic above, won five Scottish Premiership titles during his first spell in Glasgow, and he will be hoping to add to that tally in the years to come.
Whilst the Hoops will be looking to add more options to their squad before the end of the summer transfer window, Brendan Rodgers will also have to deal with speculation over the future of his star players.
Football Insider reported last month that Nicolas Kuhn and Daizen Maeda have both attracted interest from other clubs this summer, and it remains to be seen whether or not they will remain in Glasgow beyond the end of the window.
Rodgers will, of course, not want to lose any of his star attackers ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, as Kuhn, for example, would leave a big hole to fill on the right flank.
Why losing Nicolas Kuhn would be a big blow for Celtic
The German winger leaving Parkhead before the end of the summer transfer window would be a big blow for the Scottish giants because of the quality that he can provide at the top end of the pitch.
Kuhn, who joined the club from Rapid Vienna at the start of 2024, had six months to settle into the Premiership in the second half of the 2023/24 campaign, before he hit his stride this term.
The 25-year-old ended the season with an eye-catching haul of 21 goals and 15 assists in 51 appearances in all competitions for the Hoops, which included three goals and one assist in ten outings in the Champions League.
Wingers with the most assists in the Premiership (24/25) |
|
---|---|
Player (club) |
Assists |
Nicolas Kuhn (Celtic) |
8 |
Ianis Hagi (Rangers) |
7 |
Daizen Maeda (Celtic) |
7 |
Danny Armstrong (Kilmarnock) |
6 |
Shayden Morris (Aberdeen) |
6 |
James Forrest (Celtic) |
5 |
Nicky Cadden (Hibernian) |
5 |
Martin Boyle (Hibernian) |
5 |
Hyun-jun Yang (Celtic) |
3 |
Glen Middleton (Dundee United) |
3 |
Stats via Transfermarkt |
As you can see in the table above, the bulk of his assists came in the Premiership, where he led the league for assists among wingers and in all positions.
The former Bayern Munich academy star also provided a big goal threat in the Scottish top-flight, though, with a return of 13 goals in 32 appearances in the division.
His contributions at the top end of the pitch, as both a scorer and a creator of goals, are why losing him would be such a blow for Celtic, but they are reportedly eyeing up a star who could be their next Kuhn.
Celtic in talks to sign £2m attacker
According to Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph, Celtic are in talks with Nordsjaelland winger Benjamin Nygren’s representatives over a potential move to Parkhead this summer.
The reporter claims that the Hoops have already approached the Danish club to seek permission to speak to the forward, and they are now in discussions with his agents.
Joseph adds that the Hoops will move on to talks with Nordsjaelland if they can agree personal terms with the attacker, as they are yet to agree a fee with his current team.
Meanwhile, CeltsAreHere adds that a fee of £2m will be enough to secure a deal for the 23-year-old star’s services, as his current contract with the Danish outfit is due to expire at the end of December, and that there is also interest from clubs in Belgium and Germany.
Celtic must, now, work hard to convince Nygren to make the move to Glasgow this summer because he could come in as a natural replacement for Kuhn, or as fantastic competition for his place in the team.
Why Nygren could be Celtic’s next Kuhn
The 23-year-old star would be a fantastic replacement for the German attacker from a stylistic perspective, as they are both left-footed forwards who like to drift infield from the right flank.
This means that Nygren could play a similar tactical role to the one that Kuhn currently plays for Rodgers in Celtic’s team, which suggests that he could slot into the side with ease, either as a replacement or as competition for him.
The Sweden international, who was described as an “underrated” talent by Danish Scout on X, also has the quality on the ball to replicate Kuhn’s impact in front of goal in that position.
Nygren produced 15 goals in 34 games during the 2023/24 campaign and 16 goals in 32 matches in all competitions this season, which speaks to his ability to make a difference on a regular basis in the final third.
24/25 Superliga |
Benjamin Nygren |
Percentile rank vs wingers |
---|---|---|
xG |
10.90 |
Top 4% |
xG on target |
16.95 |
Top 1% |
Shots on target |
40 |
Top 1% |
Goals |
15 |
Top 1% |
xA |
5.97 |
Top 8% |
Assists |
2 |
Top 50% |
Stats via FotMob |
As you can see in the table above, he was one of the top-performing wingers in the Superliga during the 2024/25 campaign, ranking incredibly highly among his peers as both a scorer and a creator.
His meagre assist tally of two should not be a cause for concern because of his xA of 5.97, which suggests that he was let down by wasteful finishing from his teammates, rather than only having two assists due to a lack of creativity.
Therefore, Rodgers could find his next version of Kuhn by completing a deal to sign Nygren, because he is another left-footed right winger who has the potential to deliver goals and assists, or at high-quality chances created, on a regular basis for the Scottish giants.
It is now down to Rodgers and the club to convince the player to turn down interest from Belgium and Germany in order to win the race for his signature before the start of pre-season next month.

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