Chris Sutton says Nicolas Kuhn will be lucky if even Sunderland want to sign the Celtic winger in the summer.
Kuhn started the season in fine form for Celtic, showing exactly why club chiefs splurged almost £3m on him in January 2024 from Rapid Vienna.
The German scored nine goals in 17 Premiership appearances up until the turn of the year, while also providing six assists in that time.
Kuhn also starred in Celtic’s Champions League league phase run, especially in the famous 3-1 win over RB Leipzig with the 25-year-old netting twice on the night.
But he has fallen off a cliff with regards to his Celtic form. Since missing the Ross County win in January with a muscular injury has scored just one goal in 10 league games.
And in his last three appearances for the Hoops, Kuhn has been hooked at half-time twice against Rangers in March and last weekend versus St Johnstone.
Chris Sutton hammers Nicolas Kuhn’s Celtic attitude amid Sunderland snipe
Kuhn has been linked with Newcastle United this season, but those rumours have settled. And Sutton thinks if the winger doesn’t get his act together, the Magpies’ greatest rivals Sunderland won’t even bother signing him.
Sutton attacked Kuhn’s commitment to the Celtic cause and thinks his attitude is poor. Writing in the Daily Record, Sutton said: “You’re waiting for Celtic to go back up through the gears (after recent bad form) – but they can’t just assume it will happen.
“That’s what seems to be going on with Nicolas Kuhn. You don’t want to single out players but there has been a huge drop off with the German.
“It smacks to me as an attitude thing. He looks like a player who thought he’d cracked it and everything would just fall into place for him.
“But you need to put in the word and we haven’t seen enough of it lately. Back in December there was talk about Newcastle United considering a bid and it was by no means a stretch of the imagination.
“He’d be lucky if Sunderland came in for him on recent form. You can bet teams like Newcastle would have been watching him back then.
“The thing is though, they will continue to watch and they won’t have been too impressed with his application of late.”
Sutton merciless as more Celtic players criticised
Kuhn isn’t the only underperforming Celtic man to receive the wrath of Sutton, who is clearly miffed at the Bhoys’ recent slump in league form.
Auston Trusty was signed in the summer for £6m from Sheffield United, but the American defender has failed to convince the Celtic fans or live up to his price tag.
Meanwhile, in the main, Jeffrey Schlupp has been a positive for Celtic since his arrival on loan from Crystal Palace – but his St Johnstone performance, according to Sutton, was poor.
Arne Engels, Reo Hatate and Jota have also been namechecked by Sutton, who continued: “There are others who seem to think they can stroll too.
“I look at Auston Trusty and he gives the impression he thinks he’s a player. That’s fine if you back it up, but you can’t waltz around and get too casual. You need to be on it – every week.
“Jeffrey Schlupp was sloppy against Saints and while I’m not going to join in with the bashing of Arne Engels, there is more needed from the midfielder, along with Reo Hatate.
“Jota has shown flashes but he needs time and Celtic can’t just rely on Daizen Maeda every week. The burden on him is massive – and that goes back to the careless January transfer window.”
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