Rangers ‘turn down’ an offer for a first-team player, and Celtic signee is scheduled for medical on Monday.
German winger to arrive at Parkhead; Ibrox defender’s departure is not agreed upon
It is anticipated that this week, winger Nicolas Kuhn from Rapid Vienna will become Celtic’s first transfer of the January transfer window.
The Parkhead team and the Austrian club have come to an agreement on a £3 million contract with add-ons for the German 24-year-old, whose development they have followed for several months. Kuhn is scheduled to have a medical examination in London on Monday before traveling to Glasgow to sign a four-year
contract until the summer of 2028 ahead of joining up with his new team-mates. Arriving match fit, he has made 22 appearances for Rapid this season, scoring three goals and dishing out seven assists. On Saturday, he could make his Scottish Cup debut against Buckie Thistle.
After advancing through the RB Leipzig youth system, Kuhn moved to Ajax for two million euros when he was eighteen years old. Prior to being signed by Bayern Munich in 2020, initially on loan, he was a member of the Amsterdam team’s reserve squad. The left-footed attacker, who played for Germany at all youth levels up to the Under-20s, was a mainstay in Bayern’s reserve squad until relocating to Austria in 2022. The German press dubbed him the “next Messi” after he impressed for Germany at the 2017 Under-17 World Cup in India.
At least two more recruits are anticipated at Celtic Park this month, as manager Brendan Rodgers has emphasized the importance of bolstering his roster with quality players. Kuhn is unlikely to be the only newcomer. A number of departures are also anticipated. Yosuke Ideguchi, a Japanese midfielder, was already moved by Celtic to Vissel Kobe, and Kwon Hyeok-kyu, a South Korean, joined St Mirren on loan.
Italy is interested in transferring Swedish center back Gustaf Lagerbielke, and young player Rocco Vata is in talks to join Bologna before his contract expires in the summer.
Galatasaray reportedly made an offer for Rangers’ left-back Ridvan Yilmaz, but the team declined. The Ibrox club has rejected the terms offered to the Turkish team, who wanted to sign their national on a loan with a possible buyout of around £3.4 million. The 22-year-old has also been linked to Hellas Verona. He signed a £5 million deal to join Rangers from Besiktas in 2022.
