How Celtic could seal an even better signing than Duran

The circus surrounding Celtic‘s recruitment can best be encapsulated when looking at the centre-forward ranks, with last season proving so errant on that front.

Having sold Kyogo Furuhashi in January 2025, Adam Idah was also moved on late in the summer window, leaving Brendan Rodgers forced to whip out the phonebook to secure a post-deadline deal for Kelechi Iheanacho.

The Nigerian is now expected to return despite the expiry of his contract last month, although it’s bon voyage to both Junior Adamu and ‘Big Tam’ Cvancara, the loan pair netting just three times between them in 2026.

So many wrong decisions have been taken when looking to fill Kyogo’s void, but could new man Camilo Duran finally be the solution Martin O’Neill and co have been looking for?

How Duran compared to Celtic striker’s last season

The first signing of the summer has come somewhat out of left field, and while those at Ibrox have gone for Premiership experience in the form of Lawrence Shankland, the Hoops have taken a gamble on the exciting Colombian.

Isn’t that, at times, when Celtic have been at their best, however? Be it in the case of Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate or even Benjamin Nygren, the Parkhead side have helped turn relative unknowns into elite talents in Glasgow.

Duran, hopefully, will follow suit in that regard, the 24-year-old having scored and assisted 25 goals in his 45 games at Qarabag, including netting 15 times in 2025/26 across all competitions.

That record, which includes five goals in just ten Champions League games, comfortably betters what anyone achieved back at Paradise, with only Iheanacho coming close with his nine goals in 24 games.

Shin Yamada, sent out on loan in January, failed to score at all in green and white, while the profligate Johnny Kenny made his own winter exit after netting six times in the first-half of the season.

Adamu and Cvancara, well, the less said the better, although there is at least plenty to like about young Callum Osmand, the man who sealed the title on the final day.

Duran seemingly fits that Osmand mould as a mobile, dynamic striker who can be deployed all across the front line, just as likely to supply the goods as he is to finish them.

A promising addition the South American should well be then, although there are still other priorities to sort this summer.

In-demand star is now keen to join Celtic after Duran

Duran, signed for a reported fee of around £6m, might well be the first of many incomings over the coming weeks, with rumours rife that the club are chasing a deal for World Cup star, Haissem Hassan.

Hassan’s Egypt colleague Emam Ashour, is also believed to be on the list of targets, the pair having impressed as the North African side pushed Argentina close in that 3-2 thriller this week.

Elsewhere, too, CeltsAreHere have offered an exciting update regarding the club’s interest in Stade de Reims midfielder, Mory Gbane, with the likes of West Ham and Trabzonspor also chasing the 25-year-old.

Encouragingly, Gbane is said to be ‘open to a move’ to Scotland this summer, albeit with the player’s agent in discussions with a range of clubs before making a final decision.

For Celtic’s part, there hasn’t been anything beyond those talks as yet, with ‘no formal bid’ having been made, although that’s not to suggest something can’t be ramped up moving forward.

In any case, this would mark a real coup for O’Neill’s side, potentially even more so than Duran, a player whom O’Neill admitted might not even be the main centre-forward addition this summer.

In Gbane’s case, he could well offer something to this Celtic midfield which it has been lacking for an extended period now, the Ivorian such a powerhouse presence in the centre of the park.

He has spent the last 18 months in France, although previously the 6 foot 2 ace had starred for Gil Vicente in Portugal, hailed as “one of the biggest revelations of the Primeira Liga season” in late 2024 by writer Zach Lowy.

While he did depart halfway through that 2024/25 campaign, Gbane compared so impressively to his midfield peers, ranking in the top 8% for aerial duels won, the top 8% for tackles and interceptions and the top 1% for clearances per 90.

Essentially, he’s a monster in terms of duel-winning, although he’s no slouch in possession either, ranking in the top 18% for productive dribbles.

In France’s second tier last season, meanwhile, he recorded a solid 87% pass accuracy rate, while scoring three goals from his number six berth. For comparison, Callum McGregor scored just twice last term in the Premiership, albeit while enjoying a 93% pass average.

With Hatate, Arne Engels and Paulo Bernardo all facing uncertain futures at Parkhead, the signing of an experienced, proven figure like Gbane appears essential, ensuring he could well represent an even bigger coup than that of Duran.