Nicolas Kuhn’s agent Christian Nerlinger has emphatically closed the door on a January exit from Celtic.
The German has been in blistering form this season with 10 goals for the Hoops, including a double in the sensational Champions League win over RB Leipzig at Parkhead last month. Kuhn’s sizzling performances have seen Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann stand up and take notice after he admitted he was keeping tabs on the 24-year-old following his rapid rise at the Scottish Premiership giants.And the winger’s standout displays have also reportedly sparked interest from English Premier League clubs Fulham and Brentford with the winter window fast approaching.
But, in an exclusive interview with Record Sport, Kuhn’s agent, former Rangers midfielder Christian Nerlinger, has shot down any prospect of him leaving the east end of Glasgow any time soon. The German – who won a league title and Scottish Cup during three years in Glasgow after arriving from Borussia Dortmund – might have starred at Ibrox but has declared the opposite side of the fierce city divide as the perfect place for the wide man at this stage of his career.
Nerlinger, who previously snubbed the chance to return to Rangers as sporting director, said: “The speculation is not an issue for us. We have found a home for Nicolas at Celtic. We are not, never, walking out on Celtic without being together with the club because this success story was created by Celtic.
“I know from my time at Rangers it was very hard to get something out of the television rights, so of course they need to find these success stories – identify a player, buy him for £3million and sell him for £20-£25million – but we will do everything together with the club.”
After a tough first six months in Glasgow’s east end following his £3million move from Rapid Vienna, Kuhn has found his top form at Celtic this season.
And Nerlinger has heaped praise on Brendan Rodgers for bringing out the best in the forward and insists Kuhn’s focus is on silverware and Champions League success with the Hoops: “We are very grateful for how Brendan Rodgers developed the player.
“Nicolas feels the power of this club. I was in the stadium against RB Leipzig and you see the quality of the team. I know that Nicolas has total confidence in Brendan Rodgers in developing him and making him a better player, and for me as a business partner I have total trust in Michael (Nicholson, Celtic CEO) so we will take this step by step.
“Perhaps at some point there will be movement, but we will not pressurise things. It’s a massive season and we are really relaxed. We are just happy that Nicolas is at the right point, at the right time with the right manager who develops him. We are really grateful for that.
“It’s a good team. He is enjoying the philosophy of the manager and is enjoying Glasgow. We are enjoying the kind of things that are happening with Celtic and for me he is just at the right point with the right people He feels totally comfortable. We are more than happy with him at Celtic but we will always work and cooperate with Celtic about what is the next step. It’s a very exciting time.”