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Celtic are set to complete the signing of Colombian striker Camilo Duran within 48 hours, with the 24-year-old travelling to the UK to undergo a medical.
The £6million deal will see Duran put pen to paper on a five-year contract, making him the club’s first summer addition under manager Martin O’Neill.
Duran impressed last season with the Azerbaijan side, scoring 15 goals including five in the Champions League against the likes of Benfica, Ajax, Eintracht Frankfurt and Newcastle.
Celtic physio Tim Williamson has already travelled to meet the Colombian frontman, with O’Neill confirming the striker should link up with the squad in Portugal within 24 hours.
The Hoops are heading to Portugal for a week-long pre-season training camp, and O’Neill is eager to have his new striker integrated into the group as quickly as possible.
O’Neill said: “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.”
The Northern Irishman added: “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 words.”
O’Neill views the left-footed Duran primarily as a striker, despite the versatile attacker being capable of operating out wide on the flank.
The Celtic boss also confirmed that further signings are in the pipeline, with talks ongoing as the Double-winners look to strengthen across the squad.
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.”
Away from the transfer front, O’Neill delivered a significant blow regarding South Korean winger Yang, who will miss the first Old Firm derby of the season.
Yang, 24, has been selected for the Under-23s Asian Games, which run from September 19 to October 4, meaning he will be absent for the September 20 showdown with Rangers at Parkhead.
The winger’s inclusion in the squad earns him military service exemption, a significant personal benefit despite the inconvenience for Celtic’s derby preparations.
O’Neill said: “He’s in, and also he’s got military duties and all that type of stuff, you know, so he’s got all of that there. So we might have to miss him for a number of weeks, but so be it. But we knew that before we extended his contract.”
Celtic opened their pre-season schedule with a 1-1 draw against Shelbourne in Dublin at a packed-out Tolka Park, with O’Neill fielding different XIs in each half.
A mistake from Adam Montgomery allowed Shelbourne to take a penalty lead in the 88th minute before substitute Shin Yamada levelled with a stoppage-time penalty of his own.
Cameron Carter-Vickers made a welcome return from a long-term Achilles injury during the game, alongside forgotten Bhoys Maik Nawrocki and Yamada, who both spent part of last season on loan in Germany.
O’Neill said: “The run out was important for us as much as anything else. It gives me a chance under more strenuous circumstances to look at some of the younger players and an opportunity for our lads, the senior boys, to try and get fit.”
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