Celtic are closing in on their first signing of the summer, with the Camilo Duran transfer fee revealed to be significantly higher than first reported in South America and Azerbaijan.
The electric forward is understood to be travelling to Glasgow for a medical, with only the finer details remaining before the deal is officially confirmed by the club.
Multiple reports from Azerbaijan and Colombia had initially suggested Celtic faced a rejected opening bid and would need to return to negotiations before agreeing terms.
While a £3million fee had been widely circulated as sufficient to get the transfer over the line, The Herald now reports Celtic will pay up to £5.5million for the winger.
That figure is almost double what was initially reported and represents a remarkable return for Azerbaijani club Qarabag, who signed Duran from Portimonense for just £200,000 twelve months ago.
The deal will also stand as the record sale by an Azerbaijani club by a considerable distance, underlining the rapid rise of the Colombian attacker.
Attention is also turning to the goalkeeper market, where Celtic are reportedly prepared to activate Tjark Ernst’s release clause amid ongoing talks with Hertha Berlin.
Ernst, a former Germany youth international, has attracted strong interest from both Celtic and Gio van Bronckhorst’s Feyenoord, with BILD reporting both clubs are ready to trigger a €5million release clause worth approximately £4.3million.
Wolfsburg had also been tracking the shot-stopper, but reports indicate Ernst has already turned down a move to the Bundesliga club.
Both Celtic and Feyenoord are attempting to negotiate the price down with Hertha Berlin, given that Ernst has just one year remaining on his current contract with the Bundesliga 2 side.
Hertha Berlin boss Ands Leitl played down the prospect of an imminent departure, despite Ernst being absent from the club’s friendly win over Frohnauer SC.
Leitl said: “It was planned in advance that Tjark would not be in goal. The intention is for him to play on Wednesday in the friendly in Lichtenberg.”
Celtic’s pursuit of Cole Campbell now appears to be over, with the 20-year-old seemingly heading elsewhere after initial talks with Borussia Dortmund were held earlier this summer.
Sky Germany reports that SV Elversberg are set to sign the prospect, who carries a £6million valuation, with Borussia Dortmund retaining a buy-back clause in the arrangement.
Campbell spent last season on loan at Hoffenheim and had been identified as a potential addition for the Scottish champions before the Elversberg move gathered pace.
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