Celtic are finally said to be pushing ahead with their bid to land a striker this summer. The Bhoys are in a precarious position when it comes to their attack, now down to just one out-and-out striker on their books less than a month before the new season.
Martin O'Neill had Kelechi Iheanacho and two loan strikers filling the gap last season, but the two loan strikers have departed, and so has Iheanacho despite the club having had an option to extend his deal by a year.
Slipping down to one striker is a risky strategy from Celtic, especially when you consider they are yet to make a single signing, but that will likely change in the near future.
Celtic push ahead with striker deal
Qarabag striker Camilo Duran was one of the early transfer links for Celtic this summer, and according to The Celtic Way, the club is now pushing ahead with their efforts to land the Colombian frontman.
It's claimed Celtic have 'made progress' on a deal which is believed to be in the region of £2.5million. The 24-year-old is under contract until 2028 as things stand, having only joined Qarabag last year, but the Azerbaijan club will make a big profit this summer.
Duran was signed for around 200,000 euros from Portuguese side Portimonense, and he is now set to leave for the best part of £2.35million more than that total.
Duran impressed last season, scoring 15 goals and providing 10 assists, and that record includes five goals in 10 Champions League appearances, which will be particularly attractive to Celtic.
O'Neill is desperate to get the Hoops qualified for the Champions League this season, and if they get there, they are going to need experienced heads to carry them through the competition.
Duran has proven he can find the net in the competition, and signing that kind of player for £2.5million will be seen as a bargain for the Hoops. And in any case, they can't exactly be fussy given the problems they have had getting deals over the line this summer.
One could argue Celtic need three new strikers this summer, so there may be more expensive striker deals to come, but Duran seems like a smart signing to add to a near-empty strikers' room, and the price makes it a low-risk gamble for the Hoops, especially with the tens of millions they will make on sales this summer.
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