Paderborn Rejects All Offers for Baur as Celtic Face Transfer Standoff
Celtic’s pursuit of the German midfielder stalls as SC Paderborn refuses to lower its valuation, preferring to risk losing the player for free rather than accept an undervalued bid.
Celtic FC has encountered a significant impediment in its efforts to sign SC Paderborn midfielder Mika Baur, with the German club firmly rejecting all current transfer proposals. Sebastian Lange, Paderborn’s sporting director, categorically dismissed recent reports suggesting an agreement had been reached, describing the claims as nonsense and confirming that no offers currently under consideration meet the club’s financial or sporting criteria.
Lange emphasised that Paderborn, having recently secured promotion to the Bundesliga, is no longer reliant on transfer revenue to balance its books. The club has indicated a preference for allowing Baur to leave for free at the end of the season if a suitable fee cannot be agreed upon, rather than accepting a bid that fails to reflect the player’s assessed value. This stance marks a distinct shift from the club’s previous financial model, with Lange noting that Paderborn now aims to finish the season with a profit and is operating independently of the need to sell assets.
The German sporting director explained that the club utilises an internal squad valuation formula to determine transfer worth, requiring any departure to make sense both financially and in terms of squad strengthening. Lange stated that while offers have been received for several players, including those from the U21 squad, they were all rejected because they did not align with the club’s strategic interests. He stressed that the decision to sell is driven by the importance of the player to the team and the ability to maintain squad depth, rather than market pressure alone.
For Celtic, the standoff presents a strategic dilemma as manager Martin O’Neill appears to be pivoting focus toward other targets. Reports suggest O’Neill is prioritising a record-breaking £12 million move for Bodø/Glimt striker Kasper Høgh, who is reportedly set for a medical. This shift in priority comes despite Baur having been viewed as the next likely signing following the arrival of striker Camilo Duran in early July, leaving Celtic supporters frustrated by the slow pace of incoming transfers.
The situation highlights a growing divergence in transfer strategies, with Celtic having seen outgoing moves such as Daizen Maeda’s £10 million transfer to Ipswich Town, while incoming business has been limited to Duran. As the transfer window progresses, Paderborn’s firm refusal to negotiate on price leaves Celtic with a clear choice: meet the club’s valuation for Baur or accept the loss of the 22-year-old German U21 international without compensation.
