Mika Baur signs for Celtic as O’Neill’s exciting new-look side takes shape

Mika Baur is a Celtic player – and suddenly this squad is beginning to look seriously exciting.

After weeks of negotiations, delays and frustration, Celtic have finally completed the signing of the highly-rated German midfielder from Paderborn.

Baur arrives as a Germany Under-21 international following an excellent campaign in Germany. He produced four goals and six assists across 36 appearances as Paderborn won promotion to the Bundesliga.

At just 22, there should be plenty more development to come.

Mika Baur gives Celtic another exciting option

What makes this particularly interesting is Baur’s versatility.

He can operate centrally, further forward or from wider areas. That gives Martin O’Neill another technically gifted and energetic player who can fit into different systems.

More importantly, look at how the Celtic squad is beginning to take shape.

Haissem Hassan has arrived to provide another attacking option. Kasper Høgh gives Celtic a new focal point through the middle, while Camilo Durán has already shown glimpses of what he can bring.

Add Baur into that mixture and there is suddenly a very different feeling around this team.

Then remember Jota is working his way back.

There is pace, creativity, youth and genuine competition beginning to appear throughout the attacking areas.

Mika Baur signing adds to Celtic excitement

This is exactly what Celtic should be doing.

Nobody needs to start handing out medals to the board for spending money that was already available. Recruitment is their job, while strengthening the squad should never have taken this long.

However, supporters can still be excited about the players arriving.

Baur looks like another signing with genuine potential rather than simply another body added to the squad.

O’Neill is beginning to assemble a side with different attacking weapons and plenty of room to improve.

For the first time in a while, I’m looking at this Celtic squad and genuinely feeling excited about the season ahead.

Hopefully, Celtic are not finished yet.

Another couple of quality additions would transform the picture even further. If they follow Baur and Hassan through the door, this could become a very exciting Celtic team indeed.