Celtic could face growing interest in Mika Baur next summer, with clubs from three of Europe's leading leagues reportedly keeping a close eye on the midfielder's progress at Parkhead.

The Germany international has made an encouraging impression since arriving in Glasgow, with his performances attracting attention from the Premier League, Bundesliga and Serie A.

However, despite the emerging interest, a January departure is considered unlikely, with Celtic in a strong position to dictate the midfielder's future following the terms of his contract.

The 22-year-old was one of Celtic's major transfer priorities during the summer window, although securing his signature proved a lengthy process.

The Hoops quickly reached an understanding with the player, but negotiations with his former club Paderborn proved considerably more complicated, with the German side initially unwilling to compromise on their valuation.

An agreement was eventually reached in mid-August, with Celtic committing to a package potentially worth £6million to bring the midfielder to Scotland.

The investment has so far proved encouraging. While several of the club's other summer recruits have taken time to settle, Baur has quickly established himself as an influential presence, delivering performances that have not gone unnoticed beyond Glasgow.

His progress was rewarded with international recognition in September, when he received his first senior Germany call-up from Jurgen Klopp and went on to collect his first two caps.

Baur had initially been selected for Germany's Under-21 squad for the forthcoming international fixtures after missing out on the senior selection. However, his involvement has now been curtailed after he suffered an ankle injury during Celtic's 1-0 victory over Kilmarnock on Sunday.

The full extent of the problem has yet to be established, leaving some uncertainty over his immediate availability. Nevertheless, it is his longer-term prospects that are beginning to attract attention across Europe.

According to Sky Sports Germany, Baur's rapid development and impressive displays have placed him firmly on the recruitment radar of several clubs.

Teams in England's Premier League, Germany's Bundesliga and Italy's Serie A are understood to be monitoring his situation, although no specific potential suitors have been identified.

Celtic, however, have little reason to entertain the prospect of an immediate sale. Baur is contracted at Parkhead until 2030, and his agreement does not contain a release clause that would allow interested clubs to bypass negotiations with the Scottish champions.

That leaves the Hoops in a commanding position should interest develop into formal approaches, with no contractual pressure to cash in on a player they only brought to Glasgow a few months ago.

Consequently, the January window is not expected to provide a realistic opportunity for a transfer, with next summer instead emerging as a potentially significant period in determining Baur's future.

The German report suggests his current market valuation could already sit between £12.5million and £16.7million, representing a substantial increase on the package Celtic paid to secure his services from Paderborn.

That figure could rise further if the midfielder maintains his current trajectory and continues to attract attention through his performances domestically and internationally.