Celtic Push Hard To Sign Frozen-Out Left-Back: Ideal Option For Martin O’Neill? | OneFootball

Celtic have accelerated their push to sign Niels Nkounkou from Eintracht Frankfurt, with the Scottish champions now working hard to seal a deal before the transfer window closes. The move comes after Celtic identified an opening when a pre-existing agreement between Nkounkou and OGC Nice appeared to lose momentum.

Celtic close in on frozen-out Frankfurt defender Niels Nkounkou

That agreement had been tied to the departure of Melvin Bard from Nice, but Bard’s exit no longer looks likely, which effectively left the door ajar for Celtic to step in. Transfer insider Santi Aouna broke the story, revealing that Celtic are now pushing with real intent to get this one done.

Nkounkou’s situation at Frankfurt is genuinely grim. The 25-year-old French left-back has been frozen out entirely, ordered to train away from the first team despite holding a contract that runs until June 2028. He spent last season on loan at Torino in Serie A, making 11 appearances across 353 minutes, contributing one assist and collecting three yellow cards, with a pass completion rate of 79%. Those numbers barely show us what he offers, but they don’t hide his limitations either.

Celtic left-back search: The Nkounkou question

LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 09: Niels Nkounkou of Eintract Frankfurt during the pre-season friendly match between Fulham and Eintract Frankfurt at Craven Cottage on August 09, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Broadway/Getty Images)

So what do Celtic actually get here? An honest look at Nkounkou’s data shows a complicated picture. He sits 337th for defensive stability, and his teams concede a goal roughly every 58 minutes when he is on the pitch. That is not a minor footnote. Positional discipline is a recurring problem. He loses his man, drifts out of shape in a low block, and his tracking awareness in defensive phases is poor. Any manager demanding structural accountability from his wide players would notice that quickly.

Where Nkounkou genuinely does frighten defenders is in transition. His acceleration is elite. His directness from deep is aggressive and hard to contain. During his time at Saint-Étienne, those traits made him look like a completely different player. Given room to carry the ball and drive at defensive lines, Nkounkou generates early, whipped crosses that cause real problems for any back four. That version of Nkounkou is exciting.

Celtic would need to manage his defensive shortcomings carefully. A system that shields him, three at the back, with a disciplined left-sided centre-back covering his blind spots, could allow his attacking traits to flourish without exposing the side. Used as a transitional outlet rather than a conventional defensive left-back, he becomes a different proposition. Celtic play at pace, press aggressively, and transition fast. That suits him.