Why Duran and Hogh will love Celtic’s next big-money summer target

There is still the question as to why Celtic can’t pursue quality and quantity on the transfer front, although for all the frustration over a quiet start to the window, it’s hard not to be excited by the business that has actually been done so far.

Indeed, while pre-season outings count for little in the grand scheme of things, Camilo Duran has certainly made a strong first impression after netting in successive games against Sporting CP and Middlesbrough.

Tipped to potentially be the second coming of Daizen Maeda by Martin O’Neill, the Colombian marksman is fresh from a standout 2025/26 campaign at Qarabag, having scored five Champions League goals for the Azerbaijan outfit.

That was the same tally that Kasper Hogh chalked up for the competition’s surprise package, Bodo/Glimt, with the prolific Dane looking like the striker Parkhead has long been waiting for.

What Celtic can expect from Duran and Hogh this season

Monday can’t come soon enough, with the Hoops ready to begin the defence of their Scottish Premiership crown, just a matter of months on from that final day drama in Glasgow.

It had been Daizen Maeda who almost single-handedly dragged O’Neill’s men over the line with seven post-split goals, the Japanese cult hero leaving behind a sizeable void following his departure to Ipswich Town.

Thankfully, if recent games are anything to go by, Duran looks well placed to try and plug that gap, the 24-year-old another relentless, all-action forward, one who won’t give defenders a moment’s rest this season.

Like Maeda, there is an end product to go with that off-the-ball work, the South American scoring and assisting 25 goals in just 45 games for his former employers.

Duran will be a roaming presence across the frontline, while the aforementioned Hogh will be the physical focal point through the middle, the man to end an 18-month search for a Kyogo Furuhashi successor.

While perhaps not blessed with the speed or athleticism of Kyogo, the 25-year-old is a true poacher, an old-fashioned number nine in that sense.

54 goals in just 103 games for Bodo says it all, in truth, while his record in Europe is particularly eye-catching, having added to his recent Champions League exploits by netting seven in 14 Europa League games across 2024/25.

He no doubt looks the part, and with Duran alongside him, there are the makings of a fruitful attacking partnership. One more wouldn’t hurt, though, would it?

How Celtic can complete their forward line this summer

They still have to deliver, of course, but it’s hard not to view these two recent signings as anything other than an upgrade, with Duran ready to dislodge Sebastian Tounekti on the left, while Hogh looks comfortably clear of any striker who has walked in the door since Kyogo’s £10m exit back in early 2025.

On the right flank, however, O’Neill currently has an ageing James Forrest and an inconsistent Yang Hyun-jun to choose from, the latter scoring just 17 goals in 112 games for the club to date.

Well, that could all change if the Parkhead hierarchy get their way, with the Daily Record reporting that Celtic are still ‘locked in talks’ regarding a potential deal for Real Oviedo’s Haissem Hassan.

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Negotiations are ongoing as the Glasgow side seek to reach an agreement on a price, with the 24-year-old seemingly up for grabs considering he has just a year left to run on his existing deal in Spain.

He won’t come cheap, amid reports that it could take as much as £10m to prise him from the LaLiga 2 side, with the club also working on their parallel pursuit of Paderborn’s Mika Baur, another player set to be out of contract next year.

Baur, still only 22, is set to fetch around £4m and will be tasked with freshening up Celtic’s midfield unit, while as for Hassan, he certainly fits the bill as someone who could re-energise Celtic’s right flank.

At present, O’Neill has Duran to lead the press on the opposite side, while Hogh can supply the finishing touches through the centre. What the pair need, however, is a player to create openings for them.

That might well be where Hassan comes to the fore, the Egyptian notably looking so impressive for his country in the barnstorming defeat to Argentina at the World Cup.

The rampaging left-footer memorably teed up Zico to make it 2-0 on the night, bursting into the box before pulling the ball back for the type of chance that Hogh would be licking his lips at.

It was Hassan’s driving run for Zico’s earlier disallowed strike that really had tongues wagging, however, showcasing himself to be a winger who can suck defenders toward him, thus vacating space for the other members of the forward line.

He’s a box of tricks and a truly delightful player to watch, likely set to be the man to drag Celtic forward from deep while Duran seeks to burst in behind.

In LaLiga last term, Hassan did only register three assists, although that doesn’t tell the full story, as he also ranked in the top 1% of wingers in Europe’s big five leagues for both progressive carries and productive dribbles per 90, as well as ranking in the top 1% regarding share of team progression.

In essence, he’s the player who can make things happen in the final third, ensuring he can be relied upon to create openings for both Hogh and Duran, be it directly in terms of actually supplying chances, or more indirectly by dragging defenders toward him.

Either way, Hassan could be the perfect final piece of the puzzle in this new-look Celtic forward line, with the aforementioned Baur among those who can pull the strings behind them.

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