Alex Jones 
Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images Sport
Celtic are set to miss out on long-term target Mitchel Bakker, according to Italian transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.
The Dutch PSG youngster is set for a move to Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen, according to the expert, where he will sign a long-term deal running until June 2026.
Twitter: Mikkel Bakker joins Bayer Leverkusen from Paris Saint-Germain, confirmed and done deal. Paperworks completed in the… https://t.co/MP2jXRjcBY (@FabrizioRomano)
The documentation and medicals have been completed with a deal expected to be announced imminently. The final fee is believed by Romano to be around €10 million with add-ons included.
The 10-cap Netherlands under-21 international is a product of the Ajax youth academy and has featured for the French giants 45 times to date, registering two assists in that time.
The PSG defender was linked with Celtic last summer and as late as September last year.
Nominated for the European Golden Boy award, the promising youngster was touted as a possible Celtic replacement for then-departed defender Jonny Hayes, whilst the club’s Belgian defender Boli Bolingoli was embroiled in controversy.
The Bhoys had submitted a loan offer that was turned down by the French club, though the possibility of a permanent deal was not ruled out.
Bakker was tipped at one stage in his PSG career to hold down the left-back spot and make it his own. He starred for PSG in both the Coupe de France final against Saint-Etienne and the Coupe de la Ligue Final against Lyon.
Read Celtic Verdict
A Bundesliga move is understandably attractive to the young defender, though it is unclear as to whether Celtic have cooled their interest or not in Bakker.
Regardless, it may be that Postecoglou prefers a different kind of full-back in his system. Celtic will not want to lament missing out on a target that has since moved elsewhere.
