Celtic are confident of securing a bargain deal to sign the £10m World Cup star, who could become their next Kuhn.

Nicolas Kuhn’s Exit Has Not Worked Out as Expected

A year after departing Celtic, Nicolas Kuhn has discovered that leaving Glasgow has not brought the success many anticipated. The German winger completed a £16.5 million move to Serie A side Como last summer after enjoying an impressive spell at Parkhead, where he established himself as one of the club’s most dangerous attacking players.

During his 18 months with Celtic, Kuhn scored 24 goals in 69 appearances across all competitions. His pace, creativity, and ability to cut inside from the right made him a key figure in the Hoops’ attack, and his performances justified the sizeable transfer fee that Como agreed to pay.

However, life in Italy has proved far more difficult. Despite making 26 appearances in all competitions during his debut campaign, Kuhn struggled to make a lasting impact. He managed only one goal and two assists, falling well short of the standards he set in Scotland. Instead of becoming an important player for Como, the winger found himself unable to consistently influence matches.

As a result, reports now suggest that the Serie A club are willing to listen to offers for the 25-year-old. If a suitable proposal arrives, Kuhn could leave Italy after just one season, illustrating how quickly fortunes can change in football.

Celtic Continue to Feel the Effects of Losing Kuhn

Although Kuhn has found life difficult away from Glasgow, Celtic have also experienced the consequences of his departure. Replacing his productivity has proven far from straightforward, and the Scottish champions still lack a player capable of replicating the qualities he brought to the right wing.

The club have been linked with a reunion with former fan favourite Jota, but unless that move materialises, Martin O’Neill’s side remain short of a naturally left-footed winger who prefers operating from the right flank.

While Benjamin Nygren and Luke McCowan have occasionally been deployed on the right, neither is considered a natural fit for the position. Both players are more comfortable operating centrally, where they can influence the game through passing and movement rather than stretching opposition defences from wide areas.

This has left Celtic relying primarily on Hyun-jun Yang and experienced veteran James Forrest as their specialist right-sided options.

Current Right-Wing Options Have Failed to Deliver

Yang and Forrest both offer useful qualities, but neither produced the consistent attacking output required from a club aiming to dominate domestically and compete in Europe.

Yang featured in 31 Scottish Premiership matches during the 2025/26 season. Despite registering an expected goals figure of 7.37, he scored only eight goals while providing just one assist. He averaged 0.7 key passes per game and created six big chances throughout the campaign.

Forrest’s numbers were even more modest. The experienced winger made 27 league appearances, scoring once and adding a single assist. His expected goals tally stood at 2.01, while he averaged 0.6 key passes per match and created four big chances.

Combined, the pair contributed only two assists across 58 Premiership appearances. Those statistics underline a significant lack of creativity from Celtic’s right flank, particularly compared to the influence Kuhn had before his departure.

For a club expected to control possession and regularly break down defensive opponents, greater production from wide areas is essential.

Why Celtic Need a Left-Footed Right Winger Again

One of Kuhn’s greatest strengths was his ability to play as an inverted winger. Operating on the right while favouring his left foot allowed him to cut inside, combine with teammates, shoot from dangerous positions, and create chances for others.

Since his exit, Celtic have lacked that specific attacking profile. Although right-footed wingers can provide width and crosses, they do not naturally offer the same movement or unpredictability when drifting into central areas.

Restoring that balance has become a priority for the recruitment team this summer. Finding another naturally left-footed winger capable of thriving on the right could significantly improve Celtic’s attacking threat while providing greater variety in the final third.

Haissem Hassan Emerges as a Serious Transfer Target

Celtic appear to believe they may have found the ideal candidate.

According to reports, the Scottish champions are interested in signing Real Oviedo winger Haissem Hassan before the transfer window closes. The Egypt international has attracted growing attention following his performances in Spain, with Celtic now exploring the possibility of bringing him to Glasgow.

Hassan reportedly has a £10 million release clause included in his current contract. However, there is confidence within Celtic that a deal can be completed for less than that figure.

The main reason is his contract situation. With only one year remaining on his current agreement, Real Oviedo may prefer to negotiate a transfer this summer rather than risk losing the winger for a reduced fee—or potentially nothing—when his deal expires.

That scenario could allow Celtic to secure an exciting player below his official release clause, making the move excellent value if negotiations progress successfully.

Hassan Fits the Profile Celtic Have Been Missing

At 24 years old, Hassan matches the type of player Celtic have been searching for. Like Kuhn, he is naturally left-footed and prefers to operate from the right wing, where he can cut inside onto his stronger foot.

Throughout his professional career, Hassan has accumulated 255 senior appearances while contributing 15 goals and 22 assists. He has also earned six senior international caps for Egypt, highlighting his growing reputation on the international stage.

His combination of pace, technical ability, and dribbling makes him an intriguing option for a Celtic side looking to restore creativity on the right flank.

Stylistically, he appears capable of filling the tactical role that has remained vacant since Kuhn departed.

Questions Remain Over His End Product

While Hassan possesses many attractive qualities, there are understandable concerns surrounding his attacking numbers.

During the previous La Liga season, he failed to score and produced only three assists. Although his overall performances demonstrated flashes of talent, his direct contributions in front of goal were relatively modest.

The campaign before that, playing in Spain’s Segunda Division, Hassan recorded four goals and three assists. Those numbers represented steady progress but still fall short of the output expected from elite attacking players.

Consequently, signing Hassan would represent an investment in potential rather than a guarantee of immediate production.

Celtic would be betting on their coaching staff and attacking system helping him unlock another level of consistency.

World Cup Performances Highlight His Potential

Despite questions surrounding his club statistics, Hassan has already shown he can perform on football’s biggest stage.

Representing Egypt at the World Cup, he completed five successful dribbles and registered an assist across two appearances. One of those assists came against reigning world champions Argentina, demonstrating his ability to produce moments of quality against elite opposition.

Those displays offered a glimpse of the talent that has encouraged Celtic to pursue him.

Performing confidently under the intense pressure of international football suggests he possesses the mentality required to thrive in demanding environments.

Although international tournaments are small sample sizes, such performances can provide valuable evidence of a player’s ceiling when surrounded by high-quality teammates.

A Calculated Gamble That Could Pay Off

Every transfer carries an element of uncertainty, and Hassan is no exception. His overall goal and assist numbers suggest he still has room for improvement before being considered a consistently elite attacking winger.

Nevertheless, his age, technical profile, international experience, and favourable contract situation combine to make him an appealing target.

Celtic have successfully developed talented wide players in recent years, helping them improve significantly before either becoming key members of the first team or generating substantial transfer profits.

If Hassan follows a similar pathway, he could become the latest success story at Parkhead.

The Hoops are reportedly convinced they can complete the transfer for a fee below his £10 million release clause, potentially making it one of the smartest pieces of business of the summer.

Should the move go through, Hassan would arrive with the opportunity to establish himself as Celtic’s first-choice right winger and perhaps become the long-term successor to Nicolas Kuhn. While there are no guarantees, his attributes suggest he possesses the tools needed to flourish in Scotland, making him a gamble that could deliver significant rewards for both player and club.