Celtic Maintains Premiership Lead Amid Concerns Over Midfield Weakness
Celtic remains on top of the Scottish Premiership after securing a narrow 1-0 victory against Kilmarnock, with Liam Scales scoring the decisive goal. Despite the win, the result felt more like a sigh of relief than a demonstration of dominance. The team’s recent performance saw them lose to Falkirk, marking their first defeat to the hosts since 2007, followed by a 2-2 draw with Dundee United. Currently, Celtic holds 31 points from 13 matches, positioned four points clear of their closest rivals.
The club’s struggles in European competition have compounded their challenges. Celtic suffered three consecutive losses in the Europa League, culminating in a significant 4-1 defeat to Benfica. Their fortunes turned only recently when Camilo Duran’s late goals helped secure a 3-2 win over Besiktas, granting them their first points of the league phase.
Midfield issues have become increasingly apparent. The departure of Arne Engels to West Ham for approximately £22 million has left a noticeable gap, costing the team 17 goals and 22 assists over 100 appearances. Manager Martin O’Neill, who secured the permanent role in June after leading the team to a league and Scottish Cup double, acknowledged the need to bolster the squad in the upcoming January transfer window. “You’d have to, very much so,” he stated, emphasizing the urgency to address the situation. Celtic’s opponents have successfully capitalized on counter-attacking opportunities, as demonstrated by Dundee United’s exploit on October 28.
One notable summer signing, Mika Baur, has begun to mitigate some of the team’s difficulties. The midfielder was acquired from Paderborn for £6.8 million and has attracted attention from clubs across the Premier League, Bundesliga, and Serie A. Reports indicate that Celtic is likely to demand upwards of £17 million for Baur, who has demonstrated strong performance this season, netting four goals and becoming Germany’s 1,000th international player under manager Jurgen Klopp.
While Baur excels in his passing and shooting from distance, concerns linger over his physicality, particularly as he recently suffered an ankle injury against Kilmarnock. The team awaits scan results, but his contract runs until 2030, with no release clause in place, and Celtic intends to retain him through January.
In discussions regarding Baur’s future, some advocate for rejecting all offers this winter. A potential £10 million profit might tempt the club; however, as O’Neill’s preferred midfielder for linking defense and attack, a transfer could prove detrimental and reminiscent of the Engels situation, leaving two gaps in the midfield.
The preferable strategy focuses on pairing Baur with a more physical ball-winner. Should a £17 million offer emerge next summer with a ball-winner already secured, the club might consider it. At present, Celtic’s reliance on Baur in a role better suited to a specialist raises concerns regarding the team’s overall midfield balance.
