Celtic have already accelerated their summer rebuild, but Martin O’Neill’s squad could still look very different when the transfer window closes.
Mika Baur is the newest confirmed arrival at Parkhead. The 22-year-old joined from Paderborn on a four-year contract, with Celtic holding an option to extend the agreement for another season.
Baur arrived after helping Paderborn earn promotion to the Bundesliga and adds another mobile, technical option to a midfield which has lost Arne Engels and Paulo Bernardo.
The Germany youth international made his Celtic debut against Dundee United before being handed a start in Wednesday’s Champions League play-off against LASK. Celtic won 3-0, with Baur operating alongside Callum McGregor and Benjamin Nygren.
More additions are being pursued despite that commanding European result.
Celtic remain in talks with Slovan Liberec over Ermin Mahmić, with the Bosnia international emerging as a target following his breakthrough at the World Cup, while his absence from Liberec’s opening matches has increased expectations of a transfer.
|
Ermin Mahmić for Bosnia at the 2026 World Cup |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Opponent |
Stage |
Result |
Role |
Minutes |
Goals |
Assists |
Yellow cards |
|
Canada |
Group B |
1-1 |
Unused substitute |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Switzerland |
Group B |
Lost 4-1 |
Substitute |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Qatar |
Group B |
Won 3-1 |
Substitute |
26 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
USA |
Round of 32 |
Lost 2-0 |
Substitute |
39 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Tournament total |
Four matches |
One win, one draw, two defeats |
Three appearances, no starts |
66 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
Reports in Scotland suggest the clubs are discussing a package containing around £7 million upfront and another £1.5 million in bonuses. Besiktas, RB Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg have also been credited with interest in the attacking midfielder.
The situation involving Balazs Toth is less clear.
Celtic have been widely reported to be negotiating with Blackburn over a deal worth around £4 million.
However, Rovers manager Tony Mowbray has now said Blackburn have not received a bid or held direct talks. Toth has entered the final year of his contract and rejected fresh terms, keeping his future uncertain despite that public denial.
A further attacking name has now returned to Celtic’s agenda.
Celtic make £7.7m bid for Frosinone winger Fares Ghedjemi
Turkish reporter Murat Ozen wrote on X that Celtic are in the race for Fares Ghedjemi, and they’ve offered his club around £7.7 million.
Ghedjemis is already familiar to O’Neill, with the Celtic manager publicly confirming his club’s strong interest in the winger at the end of July after an earlier attempt to sign him failed.
The 23-year-old normally starts from the right before moving inside onto his left foot, and Ghedjemis scored 15 times across 37 league appearances during Frosinone’s promotion campaign.
That form also earned him international recognition with Algeria.
Celtic would face serious competition if they renewed their pursuit, given Monaco have submitted an improved proposal, while Besiktas have offered the player attractive terms too.
Frosinone have reportedly been seeking close to £17 million, meaning Celtic’s alleged bid remains well below their ‘big money‘ valuation.
Earlier reports also suggested the Scottish champions had moved away from the race.
Ozen’s information therefore points to a possible change of direction. Celtic have strengthened in central midfield and across the forward line, but their work on another winger may not be finished.
