The man who sold Nicolas Kuhn to Celtic from Rapid Vienna has admitted that he was reluctant for the player to move to Scotland.

Rapid Vienna CEO Steffen Hofmann brokered the deal that saw former Ajax and Bayern Munich prodigy Kuhn quit the Austrian Bundesliga for Brendan Rodgers' Scottish Premiership outfit for £3 million back in January. Hofmann revealed how he fought to prevent the deal from going through and advised Kuhn against making the switch initially but with hindsight, he believes that it has been the perfect career step for the German winger.

Kuhn has 14 goal contributions already this season - six goals and eight assists - and Hofmann confessed that the player who won the Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup last season is loving life in Glasgow. Hofmann said: "I helped broker the deal that took Nic to Celtic and when they made their first move I advised him not to go.

"I was dead against it and I fought tooth and nail to keep him at the club as I wanted him to stay with Rapid Vienna. In his first year with Rapid, he was injured a fair bit but now he is flying at Celtic and scoring all the time and that is the player I wanted Nic to be for Rapid. I was not happy with the transfer to Celtic if I am being honest because I felt he was a player who could take his career to a higher level.

"I was not happy when Nic left Rapid Vienna but I was happy for him. I am so happy for Nic as I know now that he made the right career move by joining Celtic. I spoke to him a few weeks ago and he is delighted with how everything is going in Scotland. He has won the Scottish Premiership and the Scottish Cup and he is playing in the Champions League.

"He couldn't be happier."

However, Hofmann sounded out a note of caution to Celtic and their supporters and warned them to enjoy watching Kuhn play while they still can. The 44-year-old is convinced that it won't be long before suitors from England come knocking on Celtic's door to lure their prized asset away just as the Scottish champions did to Rapid. Hofmann said: "The biggest question for me now is how long will Nic stay at Celtic?

"Celtic should enjoy him for as long as they have him. I am sure there will be potential suitors and clubs interested in his services from England and lining up soon enough. It won't be long before Celtic will be having the same conversations that I had with them when they came in to sign Nic. I think that is normal. It is a natural progression.

"Rapid Vienna knows where they are in European football terms and so do Celtic. Nic made the right step by joining Rapid Vienna and now he has taken the next correct career step by moving to Celtic.

"All eyes are now focused on Nic and where and when his next big move will be. It will happen to him. He will leave Celtic, trust me on that."