Celtic may have a fight on their hands to keep Nicolas Kühn this summer, with reports in Germany claiming RB Leipzig want to bring him back to the Bundesliga.
Kühn came through Leipzig’s youth academy between 2015 and 2018 and now reportedly looks set for a return. German outlet Kicker says talks are already at ‘an advanced stage’, and the club are keen to get a deal done soon.
The winger has been at Celtic since January 2023, joining from Rapid Vienna. He signed a long-term contract until 2029, meaning the club are in a strong position when it comes to setting a transfer fee. Leipzig would need to pay at least his market value of around £15 million and likely more, if they want to take him back to Germany.
Kühn has made steady progress in his time at Celtic. He found it tough early on but grew into his role under Brendan Rodgers. His pace and creativity added something different to the squad, and by the end of the 2024/25 season, he was a regular part of the starting XI.
The 25-year-old has never played in the Bundesliga, despite spells in the German lower leagues with Bayern Munich II. A move to Leipzig would give him a chance to test himself at the highest level in his homeland.
From Celtic’s point of view, losing Kühn would be a blow, especially with Champions League qualifiers on the horizon. However, a strong fee could allow Rodgers to return to the market for a quality replacement, with Benjamin Nygren on the verge of joining.
For now, no deal has been agreed, but with Leipzig stepping up talks, the winger’s future is far from certain heading into pre-season.
