Narrowly missing out on targets has been the story of Newcastle’s summer transfer window so far.
From Liam Delap choosing to join Chelsea from Ipswich, and Bryan Mbeumo set to pick between Manchester United and Spurs, it’ll no doubt feel like a frustrating time for the club and the fans that we’ve not been able to get over the line with some big names.
This time, it looks like a previously watched winger could be heading elsewhere after recent links with a potential move to St James’ Park…
According to German outlet _Kicker_, Newcastle look set to ‘miss out’ on signing Celtic winger Nicolas Kuhn, with RB Leipzig now closing in instead.
The fee for Kuhn is reportedly only £15m and has caused Leipzig to make their move, with talks now reaching an ‘advanced’ stage.
Scottish paper the Daily Record note that the German has attracted Premier League and European interest after an impressive season in which he recorded 21 goals and 15 assists for the eventual Champions.
The Chronicle revealed that we’ve sent scouts to watch the winger last season, but it seems we have other options higher on our list, such as Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga.
It may have been the Scottish Premiership, but Kuhn’s overall numbers this past season cannot be scoffed at.
36 goal contributions across all competitions, most notably in the Champions League against Bayern Munich, see him rank amongst the prolific forwards in all of Europe over 2024/25.
He could prove to be a bargain for RB Leipzig, with £15m a very reasonable fee in this day and age given the season he’s just had.
However, I imagine Newcastle want a younger option and wide man who can take us to the next level down that right.
Kuhn may have been a welcome rotation option with Jacob Murphy, but I don’t blame the club for targeting options with the potential to be a level above the German.