Celtic’s recruitment has proven its worth once again.
It doesn’t matter who is in the dugout, whether it’s Ange Postecoglou or the returning Brendan Rodgers, the top-quality players keep coming in and producing.
In several cases, the players Celtic sign aren’t ready-made, even if fans would like them to be, but project-like transfers that turn into gems down the line.
Matt O’Riley hit the headlines over the weekend and he is a perfect case in point because he arrived from MK Dons as an unknown figure, before being sold to Brighton in a record deal.
In O’Riley’s case, he showcased his stuff under Postecoglou, before going to a completely different level under Rodgers.
The ride was a lot smoother for the Denmark international compared to the man thriving in Celtic colours right now.
Michael Stewart says he has been ‘100%’ wrong about Nicolas Kuhn at Celtic
Nicolas Kuhn’s early few months in Celtic colours were difficult, but it just goes to show that you shouldn’t judge too early and trust the process.
Many have been left with egg on their face regarding the 24-year-old, including Michael Stewart.
Over the weekend, Celtic beat Kilmarnock 2-0, with Kuhn scoring a crucial goal just as the opposition were putting pressure on their tiring opponents.
It further proved the levels the German is hitting, with Stewart telling Premier Sports that he has been ‘100%’ wrong about the player, how he feels like a ‘new signing’ and a ‘completely different player’.
“This is a new signing in the summer because last season there was no danger that anyone would have predicted that this is the sort of player we would have been seeing,” said Stewart.
“It’s just no chance. He has been a completely different player. I am quite happy to hold my hands up and say ‘I got it wrong’. 100%. I didn’t see this form coming from Nicolas Kuhn. No chance.
“You could hear Joe Hart saying in commentary that Brendan Rodgers used to say at half-time, ‘Nicolas show us what you are about’. That wasn’t in terms of putting an arm around the shoulder and trying to console him. That was more along the lines of what Johan (Mjallby) was saying with Neil Lennon, it was putting it out to the players and saying ‘come on. Show me what you have got’. And he has, he has stepped up to the plate this season. He is coming up with goals and he is coming up with assists. I am not being funny, but what I have been harping on about for a long time, in terms of, not cutting inside all the time. Driving to the byline occasionally. He has got that now. He is mixing it up and he has an end product. He is on fire now.”
Will Celtic sell Kuhn in January?
There is already talk about Kuhn in the transfer market and Celtic fans will be collectively sighing because it’s another ‘here we go’ moment again.
It’s well-documented that the champions of Scotland can’t financially compete with others, so it puts them on the back foot.
But Stewart added on Premier Sports that there is no way Kuhn leaves the club in January, unless something ‘ludicrous’ is put on the table.
“Regardless of the bid, I don’t think they are selling him in January,” stated Stewart. “You look at what happened with Matt O’Riley as well. There were big bids that came in January. It was like ‘no, no’. It would wait until the summer.
“Regardless of what the bid was, unless it’s something ludicrous, which I don’t see happening, you are talking about £30 million+, which isn’t going to happen, if it was around the £20m, come the summer, I think they would think about it.
“Even if it was £20 odd million in January, I don’t think Celtic would entertain it. They are going to be right on the cusp of the Champions League, at this point.”
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