MIKA BAUR has sparked reports of a move to Celtic after missing training at SC Paderborn as the team prepare for their return to the Bundesliga.
It looks as though the champions are about to get the green light to sign the 22-year-old midfielder, according to German media outlet NW Sport.
The report also states Baur has been granted time off by his club to hold talks with the Hoops and could even undergo a medical today.
Scotland’s title kings appeared to have hit an impasse with the newly-promoted team over the valuation of the Under-21 international.
Celtic are believed to have bid £4million for Baur with his club rejecting the offer and telling the Parkhead powerbrokers to think again.
RECORD-BREAKER…£11million-plus striker Kasper Hogh.
A fee of around the £7million has emerged to restart negotiations, but the figure quoted is extravagantly high for a player who is out of contract next summer, has never played in the top flight and was in the German third-tier a year-and-a-half ago during a loan spell at Dynamo Dresden.
Whether or not Celtic would be prepared to pay that sort of cash for Baur is a matter for conjecture.
They have already splashed out over £17million to bring in record signing Kasper Hogh, from Bodo/Glimt, and Camilo Duran, from Qarabag.
They are also edging forward in their pursuit of Egypt winger Haissem Hassan in a deal that could be worth £9million to Real Oviedo.
There may still be some hard talking to do before the Baur move is anywhere near being confirmed.
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