Celtic close in on £4m starlet but are braced for key exits
Baur emerges as key target as Ipswich agree fee for Maeda
Celtic are set to pocket a fee in the region of £10 million for Daizen Maeda after the Scottish champions and Ipswich Town agreed a deal in principle for the Japanese forward - and they are set to invest some of that money in a new central midfielder.
Maeda has made no secret of his desire to move to the English Premier League and his dream is becoming a step closer after the newly-promoted Tractor Boys agreed a deal in principle to buy the 28-year-old.
Ipswich want to conclude the transfer swiftly as they ramp up pre-season training and their new head coach Gary O’Neil has identified Maeda as a priority to bolster his attack.
Celtic have been working on incomings of their own and while forward Camilo Duran has been procured from Qarabag, they have been linked with Egypt wide man Haissem Hassan and according to reports in Germany, they are close to a deal for Paderborn midfielder Mika Baur.
The 22-year-old was expected to join Bundesliga Schalke 04, but Sky Sports Germany claim that Baur’s preference is to join Celtic and play Champions League football. His agent, former Rangers midfielder Christian Nerlinger, is said to be “working on the deal”.
Baur is the son of ex-Germany handball player Markus Baur. He started his career at Freiburg before joining Paderborn two years ago. He also had a loan spell with Dynamo Dresden and has represented Germany at under-21 level.
It is understood that Baur would command a fee upwards of £4m.
Celtic want to reinforce their midfield options, with Nottingham Forest remaining interested in Arne Engels, while Reo Hatate has expressed his desire to move on.
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