Why Celtic are “pushing hard” to sign the next Tounekti in £6m deal

Celtic officially confirmed the signing of versatile Colombian centre-forward Camilo Duran from Qarabag for a fee of £6m on Friday morning.

The 24-year-old attacker scored 15 goals in all competitions for Qarabag in the 2025/26 campaign, including a return of five goals in ten appearances in the Champions League.

Whilst the Hoops will be looking to bolster their attack by adding new players to the squad, Martin O’Neill should also be looking to develop the players who are currently at the club.

Sebastian Tounekti, for example, is a forward who has the potential to emerge as a star for the Scottish Premiership giants if he can take a step to the next level.

What Sebastian Tounekti needs to do to be a star for Celtic

The Tunisia international was an exciting addition to the group when he joined from Hammarby for a fee of £5m under Brendan Rodgers last summer.

Tounekti got supporters off their feet and excited in his very first match for the club against Kilmarnock in the Premiership, as he completed an eye-catching five dribbles and created four chances for his teammates.

Unfortunately, though, the 23-year-old forward was unable to turn exciting moments into consistent production in the final third on a regular basis over the course of the Premiership season.

Tounekti ended the campaign with two goals and two assists in 27 appearances in the league, which shows that the next step that he needs to take is to deliver more at the top end of the pitch after dribbling into dangerous areas.

He needs to work on his decision-making, knowing when to shoot and when to pass or cross the ball, to then be a constant threat to the opposition’s goal, rather than a flashy player who can take a defender on without any end product at the end of the move.

If he can add more goals and assists to his game, the Tunisian winger could be a phenomenal talent for O’Neill because he is already an exciting dribbler who can consistently get into dangerous positions.

Celtic pushing to sign star who could be their next Sebastian Tounekti

Signing players with Tounekti’s natural talent and ability to take players on who can also score and assist goals would cost far too much money, as that calibre of player will be wanted by the top clubs in world football, never mind Scotland.

That may be why the Scottish giants are looking at another winger who is like Tounekti to arrive at Parkhead with the potential to explode if he can develop his final action.

Journalist George Tsarouchas reports that Celtic are “pushing hard” to sign Real Oviedo winger Haissem Hassan after his performances for Egypt at the World Cup.

The reporter, who also covered the club’s interest in Duran before that move was official, adds that the Spanish side are looking for a fee of around £6m for the attacker, who has also attracted interest from English and Spanish teams.

Hassan’s performances for Real Oviedo in LaLiga last season were similar to Tounekti’s in the Premiership for Celtic last season, as he excelled as a dribbler and provided decent creativity, but lacked a goal threat.

Like the Hoops star, the Egyptian star has the potential to be an incredible attacking force if he can add more consistency to his play in the final third to back up the qualities that he brings as a dribbler and mobile wide player.

The 24-year-old attacker showed some promise in his two appearances for Egypt at the World Cup, creating one ‘big chance’, providing one assist, and completing five dribbles.

In Egypt’s dramatic loss to Argentina earlier this week, Hassan completed four dribbles and played a key role in the goal that was controversially ruled out by VAR.

His impressive dribbling numbers at the World Cup, coupled with his form for Real Oviedo, suggests that he would be a Tounekti-esque figure on the right wing for Celtic as a direct winger.

If O’Neill could have both Tounekti and Hassan on the wings for the Hoops and help them to develop more end product, the Scottish giants could have a frightening wing pairing next season.