Chris Sutton shared his take on the potential signing of Nicolas Kuhn by Celtic with a deal getting closer.
He drew parallels with Celtic’s past signings under Ange Postecoglou, noting how the club had successfully identified and acquired key players like Hatate and Matt O’Riley, who weren’t on many clubs’ radars. “Postecoglou was ahead of the game. Hatate was, and is, brilliant,” Sutton pointed out, highlighting the the former Celtic manager’s knack for unearthing hidden gems. [RecordSport]
Sutton then turned his focus to Brendan Rodgers, emphasising the need for Celtic to continue finding players who can make an immediate impact. “Rodgers now needs to be ahead of the game in the same way and find this year’s versions of Hatate and O’Riley and not, with respect, versions of Jeremy Toljan or Oli Burke,” he said. This comparison underlines his view that while some signings have become crucial players for Celtic, others haven’t quite hit the mark.
Regarding Kuhn, Sutton seemed a bit skeptical, describing the German as that dreaded word “project.” He referenced Rodgers’ preference for quality over projects, posing the question, “So will the German be a Daizen Maeda or a Marian Shved?”
This comparison is quite telling. Daizen Maeda, a successful signing for Celtic, contrasts sharply with Marian Shved, a winger who was brought in as a project but ultimately didn’t make an impact before moving on.
Sutton’s remarks reflect the uncertainty and risk involved in the transfer market, especially when it comes to players who are seen as ‘projects’ rather than immediate assets.
We’re nearly at the half way point in the window and Celtic are still to make their first official signing. There’s likely to be a flurry of activity over the next two weeks, but will we get what we need for the second half of the season.
