Celtic step up efforts to sign Nice target Niels Nkounkou | OneFootball

Celtic are reported to have stepped up their efforts to secure the signature of Eintracht Frankfurt’s Niels Nkounkou (25), according to Foot Mercato.

Having been tracked by OGC Nice – with whom he had an agreement should Melvin Bard (25) leave – the player is now unlikely to return to France, while a sale of the coastal side’s full-back, who is reportedly being targeted by Coventry City, is not currently on the cards.

Having joined Frankfurt from AS Saint-Étienne for a fee of €7.5m in the summer of 2023, Nkounkou saw his playing time there decrease during the 2024–25 season, following a full first campaign for the Pontoise-born player. This situation led the versatile left-back to join Torino on loan for the 2025-26 season, where his playing time was also significantly reduced (443 minutes played in 13 appearances across all competitions).

Under contract with Die Adler until 2028, Nkounkou was left out of the German club’s first two matches this season. Valued at around €3m, his future could now lie at Celtic Park.

GFFN | Léo Aschi