Celtic Line Up £12m Livewire as Potential Successor to In Demand Kühn
With Celtic’s pre-season tour set to begin in just a week, activity off the pitch is heating up just as quickly as preparations on it. The Hoops kick off their summer schedule with a short trip to face Queen’s Park at Lesser Hampden next Friday a fixture that saw them run out 6-4 winners last year in an entertaining goal-fest.
From there, Brendan Rodgers’ men will travel to Cork, Lisbon, northern England, and eventually take part in the Como Cup, where high-profile matchups against Ajax and either Al-Ahli or hosts Como await. But while fans are eager to see the team in action again, another key question is looming large: which new faces will be on show and who might be leaving?
Kühn’s Time at Celtic Nearing Its End?
Celtic’s summer business has started steadily, with Kieran Tierney returning home to Glasgow and goalkeeper Ross Doohan joining to provide depth in the shot-stopping department. Deals for Callum Osmand and Benjamin Nygren also appear to be progressing well, but attention is quickly shifting to a potential high-profile departure.
German winger Nicolas Kühn, who impressed under Rodgers last season, looks increasingly likely to be on his way out. Reports from The National and Sky Sports’ Anthony Joseph confirm that Bundesliga side RB Leipzig have ramped up their interest in the 24-year-old. Now, a new and perhaps even more surprising suitor has entered the frame: Serie A outfit Como.
Despite only returning to Italy’s top tier last season, Como managed by former Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fàbregas are no ordinary newly promoted club. Backed by the billionaire Djarum Group from Indonesia, they are reportedly the wealthiest club in Italian football. As The Athletic’s James Horncastle notes, they are in a strong financial position to flex their muscles in the market.
Their interest could trigger a bidding war, with Celtic valuing Kühn at around £15 million. For a club that has always been savvy in the transfer market, this could represent one of the most lucrative sales in their recent history.
Celtic Eyeing Dynamic Replacement
Should Kühn depart as now seems likely Celtic are already preparing to act swiftly. According to Glasgow World, the club is considering a move for 22-year-old Louie Barry, an exciting attacking talent currently on the books at Aston Villa.
Celtic have reportedly been monitoring Barry for some time and could look to pounce, with Villa needing to balance their financial books to remain compliant with Premier League Profit and Sustainability Rules. Barry is believed to be available for around £12 million a fee within Celtic’s reach should the Kühn sale materialise.
Barry’s footballing journey has been remarkable. He joined Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy in 2019 before returning to England with Villa a year later. While he hasn’t broken into Villa’s first team, he’s enjoyed loan spells at several lower-league clubs, most notably at Stockport County last season.
There, Barry lit up League Two with 24 goals in 43 league appearances, playing a crucial role in Stockport’s promotion push. His performances were described by journalist Sam Byrne of the Manchester Evening News as “absolutely electric,” and he was credited with capturing the imagination of Hatters fans week after week.
The Verdict
A move for Barry wouldn’t just be a short-term fix it would represent a continuation of Celtic’s strategy to invest in emerging talent with high upside. With his pace, technical quality, and growing maturity, Barry could thrive under Rodgers’ guidance at Parkhead, especially with European football and domestic silverware up for grabs.
Should Kühn leave as expected, Barry may well be the name Celtic fans are singing come August.
