Brentford eyes Celtic’s £25 million-rated winger Nicolas Kuhn as a potential replacement for Bryan Mbeumo with the German scoring twice in the 3-1 Champions League win over RB Leipzig.
Up against the club where he spent some of his formative years, the Red Bull graduate showed his old employers just how far he has come under Brendan Rodgers’ during a stirring European fightback at Parkhead.
Nicolas Kuhn scored twice as Celtic roared back from an early Christoph Baumgartner goal.
His first of the night – an equaliser after 35 minutes – was the sort of finish Brentford supporters have become accustomed to during Bryan Mbeumo’s time in West London.
And TBR understands that, with Arsenal, Liverpool and Newcastle United all linked with Mbeumo in recent weeks, Brentford could look north of the border in search of a potential replacement.
Brentford could target Celtic’s Nicolas Kuhn if Bryan Mbeumo leaves
HITC reported back in May that some of the England’s big-hitters – including Brentford’s London rivals Tottenham Hotspur – had expressed an interest in Mbeumo at the start of the summer.
Mbeumo is Stan Collymore’s ‘favourite player’ in the Premier League top flight for a reason.
And while that initial interest did not really turn into anything more serious, Mbeumo is threatening to become a man in high demand heading into 2025. Especially given his form at the beginning of the season and given his contract situation.
The versatile forward – scorer of has eight goals in ten league starts in 2024/25 – is due to become a free-agent in 2026, though Brentford do have the option of extending his stay by a further 12 months.
The Frenchman has also admitted, via an interview with L’Equipe, that he is interested in doing where Ivan Toney could not in sealing a move to one of Europe’s major footballing institutions.
“I have spent five years at Brentford, at a club that has allowed me to grow and pass a milestone. But, yes, I would like to play in the biggest competitions, at the best clubs,” Mbeumo admitted.
“It is tantalising to see some big clubs interested in me. We will see [what happens].”
Celtic want £25m as Brendan Rodgers lauds Kuhn role in Champions League win
At Celtic, Nicolas Kuhn’s stellar Champions League display serves to greatly enhance his own reputation. After curling a stunning, Mbuemo-esque equaliser in off the post and creating a chance for Daizen Maeda with a glorious, defence-splitting pass, Kuhn then set Celtic on their way to a famous European win as he tapped in on the stroke of half-time.
A weaving run set up another opportunity for Reo Hatate before the Japan international put the result beyond doubt.
In just 16 Celtic appearances this term, former Germany Under 21 international Kuhn has a remarkable nine goals and 10 assists.
And while TBR understands that Celtic have no plans to cash in on a man who arrived as recently as January, the chance to make a substantial profit may be hard to resist provided Brentford are willing to meet that £25 million asking price.
Celtic paid only £3 million to bring Kuhn to Glasgow from Rapid Vienna 10 months ago.
“He’s still young so he still has more to [improve on]. I actually thought his pressing could have been better tonight. But he’s just learning and developing all the time,” Rodgers says of Kuhn, who was recently likened to Bayern Munich speedster Leroy Sane by the official Bundesliga website.
“But it was so exciting tonight he had the ball [against Leipzig]. And obviously getting the two goals is great for him, especially having worked at RB Leipzig before as a young player.”
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