Celtic Agree Personal Terms with Mika Baur as Arne Engels Replacement Edges Closer

Celtic have moved quickly to secure a midfield contingency plan, reaching a personal terms agreement with Paderborn’s Mika Baur as the expected departure of Arne Engels looms large. Sources confirm that club-to-club negotiations are now underway with the newly-promoted Bundesliga side, with Celtic looking to finalize a deal for the 22-year-old. Baur, valued at around €2.2 million by transfer analytics, could command a higher fee given Paderborn have already lost several key players this window. The Hoops have been bracing for Engels' exit after rejecting bids in excess of €30 million in January. Nottingham Forest and AS Roma remain keen, while Tottenham have also been linked with the Belgian midfielder. Engels’ departure would likely set a new record sale for Celtic. Celtic’s window is accelerating on multiple fronts. Camilo Duran has already been signed, talks are ongoing with Real Oviedo over Egyptian international Haissem Hassan, and Daizen Maeda is closing in on a €12 million move to Ipswich Town. Baur, the son of former handball world champion Markus Baur, stands at 5ft 8in and is known for his versatility in midfield and on the wing. He impressed during a breakout season at Paderborn, starting 29 of 30 matches after earning the trust of manager Ralf Ketteman, contributing four goals and six assists. Despite his strong campaign, analytics firm SciSports suggests Baur is currently below Engels' level, though they note he has the potential to surpass the Belgian in the long run. Celtic may still look to add more midfielders this summer, spreading the responsibility rather than relying solely on Baur to fill Engels' shoes.