The summer transfer window officially opened for business just over two weeks ago and Celtic are yet to make any additions to their first-team squad.
Martin O’Neill officially took on the job on a permanent basis on a one-year contract, with an option to extend by a further 12 months, and is now looking to bolster his squad.
The Northern Irish manager won the Scottish Premiership on the final day of the 2025/26 campaign, before winning the SFA Cup final against Dunfermline at Hampden Park.
Now, O’Neill wants to add to his options at the top end of the pitch to ensure that the title race does not go down to the final day, with interest in Qarabag centre-forward Camilo Duran.
The Premiership champions are locked in talks with the Champions League side over a deal to bring the Colombian number nine to Parkhead this summer.
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Duran scored 14 goals, including five in the Champions League, in all competitions for Qarabag in the 2025/26 campaign, whilst also providing his teammates with six assists.
Whilst the 24-year-old attacker could be an exciting addition to the squad, the club are looking at a player at the other end of the pitch who would be an even better signing.
According to journalist George Tsarouchas, Celtic are interested in a deal to sign Las Palmas goalkeeper Dinko Horkas in the summer transfer window.The reporter claims that the Hoops are advancing in talks with the Spanish side over a deal to bring the Croatian shot-stopper to Parkhead in the coming weeks.
He adds that the Scottish giants have already made an offer of around €4m (£3.4m) in an attempt to strike an agreement with Las Palmas, but it remains to be seen whether or not that will be enough.Tsarouchas reveals that Celtic are currently leading the race to sign the LaLiga 2 star, who is said to be open to exploring a new adventure this summer.
How Dinko Horkas would be a better Celtic signing than Camilo Duran
Horkas could be an even better signing than Duran, should the club seal both deals, because he has the potential to make a greater impact on the team.
Last season, Daizen Maeda scored 14 goals in the Premiership for Celtic to lead them to the league title, whilst Duran only scored nine goals in 30 matches for Qarabag at league level.
The Colombian marksman, therefore, may not come in as an upgrade on what O’Neill currently has at his disposal in the centre-forward position, whilst that would not be the case for Horkas between the sticks.
|
25/25 season *per 90 |
Horkas (LaLiga 2) |
Sinisalo (Premiership) |
|---|---|---|
|
Saves* |
2.50 |
1.92 |
|
Save percentage |
72% |
61% |
|
Goals prevented* |
0.09 |
-0.13 |
|
Goals conceded* |
0.96 |
1.25 |
|
Acted as sweeper* |
1.19 |
0.58 |
|
High claims* |
0.52 |
0.42 |
In the 2025/26 campaign, the Croatian stopper significantly outperformed Viljami Sinisalo at league level with his performances for Las Palmas in LaLiga 2.
He looks to be a much more complete goalkeeper than the Finland international because he excels at coming off his line to sweep up behind his defence and to come and claim crosses, two areas in which Sinisalo can struggle at times.
Their respective shot-stopping statistics are also telling. Horkas prevented 3.72 more goals than expected based on the xG against him, whilst the Finnish ‘keeper let in 1.59 more than expected and Kasper Schmeichel let in 2.98 more than expected.
Whilst Duran may not immediately improve Celtic’s team, due to Maeda’s form, the Croatian goalkeeper would walk into O’Neill’s side as a much better option than the two goalkeepers they had in the 2025/26 campaign.
His form in LaLiga in the 2024/25 season is further proof of that, because he prevented 0.27 goals and did not make a single error that directly led to a goal in 13 appearances in the Spanish top-flight.
His statistics over the past two years for Las Palmas suggest that he would help Celtic to concede fewer goals with both his shot-stopping skills and his ability to command his box by claiming crosses.
Whereas, Duran’s statistics at league level for Qarabag do not suggest that he would score more goals than Maeda did, which means that he may not immediately improve the team before he has a chance to develop with more experience.
Therefore, Horkas, certainly in the short-term, would be an even better signing than Duran for the Scottish giants in the summer transfer window.
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