NafisaCamilo Duran looks increasingly likely to become the first new face through the door at Celtic as the Scottish champions finally gather momentum in the transfer market.
After weeks of speculation surrounding several attacking targets, supporters have been waiting for concrete movement as Martin O’Neill prepares his squad for another campaign that will bring domestic expectations alongside the challenge of competing in Europe.
With pre-season now well underway, there has been growing pressure for fresh arrivals to join the group before preparations intensify.
The Hoops have spent much of the summer assessing options across a number of positions, particularly in attack, where O’Neill has made no secret of his desire to strengthen. Recruitment has taken longer than many fans expected, but the club now appear to be on the verge of landing one of their priority targets.
That wait could finally be coming to an end.
Camilo Duran is expected to finalise a £6million switch to Celtic within the next 48 hours, while Martin O’Neill is already looking beyond the Colombian striker as he continues to push for further additions, writes Ryan McDonald in Dublin.
The experienced manager confirmed that the prolific forward is travelling to the United Kingdom to complete his medical examinations.
Provided there are no unexpected issues during those checks, the 24-year-old will sign a five-year contract and officially become Celtic’s first arrival of the summer window.
O’Neill also explained that the Colombian, who struck 15 goals for Qarabag last season, including five in the UEFA Champions League, is expected to link up with the squad during their week-long training camp in Portugal.
The Northern Irish coach also made it clear that recruitment will not stop there, revealing that work continues behind the scenes to bring several more players to Parkhead as Celtic’s transfer activity finally begins to accelerate.
Speaking after the 1-1 friendly draw with Shelbourne in Dublin, O’Neill said:
“Yeah, I think that Tim Williamson our physio has gone down to meet up with him and I think that that’s going to happen.
“I think that he should join us in Portugal, certainly in the next 24 hours.
“What can he bring as a player? Obviously he’s still very young. I think that what he can do is that I think he can hold up play.
“I think he’s strong in that there, in that department. We need a few players. It’s as simple as that. But I do think that he will be a good addition. Famous last word.”
Duran’s impressive European campaign attracted widespread attention after he found the net against Benfica, Ajax, Eintracht Frankfurt and Newcastle United, showcasing his ability on some of football’s biggest stages.
Although capable of operating in wide attacking roles, O’Neill believes the Colombian’s long-term future lies through the middle.
The Celtic boss also admitted that discussions remain active with additional transfer targets as the club continue to reshape the squad before the new season gets underway.
He said:
“Well, absolutely. We definitely know. We have been making inroads into it, like everything else.
“Sometimes you get thwarted with things, sometimes it’s not, but yeah, we need a number of players still.”
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