Celtic Told That £4.3m Bid Will Be Accepted: How Can O’Neill Use The Midfielder?

Celtic Told That £4.3m Bid Will Be Accepted: How Can O’Neill Use The Midfielder? Celtic now know the figure required to prise Mika Baur away from SC Paderborn before the new Scottish Premiership season gets underway. According to an exclusive report from Pete O’Rourke for Football Insider , the German side expect a fee of around £4.3 million (€5 million) before sanctioning the midfielder’s departure. Celtic discover latest stance over Mika Baur deal Negotiations have already produced two rejected bids. Paderborn sporting director Sebastian Lange confirmed that a £4 million offer was received but fell short of the club’s valuation. Even though Baur has entered the final year of his contract, Paderborn remain unwilling to reduce their demands after watching his stock rise throughout an outstanding campaign. Interest from Celtic has gathered momentum because Martin O’Neill could lose several midfielders before the transfer window closes. Arne Engels continues to attract attention from West Ham , while Reo Hatate and Benjamin Nygren have drawn interest elsewhere. Baur wants the move and reportedly agreed personal terms, while his absence from Paderborn’s recent friendly against Southampton added another layer to the ongoing negotiations. Lange admitted the transfer would happen once the asking price is met. Celtic see more than promising numbers in Baur SPIESEN-ELVERSBERG, GERMANY – MAY 03: Mika Baur of SC Paderborn reacts during the 2. Bundesliga match between SV 07 Elversberg and SC Paderborn 07 at Ursapharm-Arena on May 03, 2026 in Spiesen-Elversberg, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images) There is substance behind the growing interest. During the 2025/26 2. Bundesliga campaign, Baur scored four goals, supplied five assists and completed 85 per cent of his passes across 32 league appearances. He spent 2,535 minutes on the pitch, earned Paderborn’s Player of the Season award and completed 99 minutes in the club’s 2-1 promotion play-off victory over VfL Wolfsburg. Those performances earned him recognition with Germany’s Under-21 side. His game revolves around sharp movement rather than flashy moments. He constantly receives possession in tight spaces, turns with purpose and shifts play before defenders can reset. Celtic have lacked that kind of natural link between midfield and attack since Daizen Maeda’s exit, making Baur a logical target instead of a luxury addition. T4O’s opinion: Celtic could gain a tactically flexible midfielder Baur looks at his best as an attacking number eight with licence to roam. He isn’t the midfielder who sits in front of the defence breaking up attacks. Instead, he shines higher up the pitch, where quick passing combinations and clever positioning pull opponents out of shape. He can drift into wide areas without losing his influence, giving Martin O’Neill another option against packed Scottish Premiership defences. For £4.3 million, Celtic wouldn’t simply buy potential. They would secure a 22-year-old coming off a promotion-winning season, backed by strong production, excellent passing accuracy and growing international recognition. Players arriving with that blend of confidence, versatility and upward momentum rarely stay available at this level for very long.