Celtic could make a significant profit on summer signing Mika Baur, with the midfielder already attracting big-money interest from Europe's top leagues. The £6.8m capture from Paderborn has impressed at Parkhead since swapping the Bundesliga for Glasgow.
Baur, 22, has established himself among the first picks on Martin O'Neill's team sheet and has netted four goals so far. His standout displays earned him a dream international call-up by Jurgen Klopp in September as the playmaker made his debut for Germany.
Ankle injury concern
The midfielder was included in the Under-21 squad for this month's double-header against Belgium and Croatia but was forced to withdraw after suffering a worrying ankle injury in Sunday's 1-0 win over Kilmarnock. O'Neill is now awaiting scan results as the Hoops boss hopes his star man has avoided a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Clubs across Europe are also keeping a watchful eye on highly-rated Baur's progress as his stock continues to skyrocket.
Interest from top leagues
According to Sky Sports, the pint-sized star has already caught the attention of teams in the Premier League, Serie A and Bundesliga. But with the energetic German under contract until 2030, the Scottish champions are under no pressure to cash in on one of their prized assets.
Celtic stand to make a huge profit on the player, with a fee in excess of £17m likely to be required to prise him away from Parkhead. Baur's deal also contains no release clause, leaving the Hoops in a strong negotiating position should interest turn into concrete offers.
January plans
However, a quick-fire sale won't be on the cards, with O'Neill keen to strengthen rather than weaken his squad ahead of the January window. The veteran boss is in the market for a defensive midfielder after failing to replace £25m West Ham star Arne Engels in the summer.
Celtic could also look to bolster their defensive options, while another winger is likely to feature on the shopping list.
