Celtic Set to Sign Duran as Carter-Vickers Returns

Martin O’Neill expects Celtic’s slow-burn summer to finally catch fire, with Camilo Duran poised to become the club’s first signing of the window and pressure mounting to overhaul a title-winning but fragile squad.

Duran set to break transfer deadlock

The Hoops have moved to land 24-year-old forward Camilo Duran from Qarabag for a fee in the region of £6m, a deal now on the brink of completion after the player underwent a medical.

Duran arrives on the back of a standout 2025-26 campaign in Azerbaijan, where he scored five goals in the Champions League and announced himself on Europe’s bigger stage. Celtic see him as a key attacking addition, and as the first sign that the club’s recruitment department is finally shifting up through the gears.

Supporters have grown restless. The champions are only weeks away from the new season, and until now the only concrete business has been internal: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain signing on for another year after impressing on a short-term deal from January.

O’Neill knows the mood. He also knows the clock is ticking.

“We have a number of players that we’re looking at,” he said. “We’ve had a number of offers in for players as well too at the same time.

“And I’m hoping in the not-too-distant future, and I mean maybe in the next couple of weeks, that we will have some really decent players at the football club to add to the very decent players we have at the football club.”

The message is clear: Duran is only the start. The squad that clung on to the Premiership crown will not be allowed to stand still.

Carter‑Vickers back after Achilles ordeal

On the pitch, there was a significant boost in the 1-1 draw with Shelbourne. Cameron Carter‑Vickers pulled on a Celtic shirt in a match for the first time since October, playing the opening 45 minutes as both sides converted late penalties.

For the United States international, just stepping out was a small victory at the end of a long, lonely road.

“At first, I just thought I had a bit of cramp in my calf,” he said of the injury he suffered in a Europa League win over Sturm Graz. “Pretty soon after that, when the physios saw it, they thought it was a rupture in the Achilles, which it turned out to be. Obviously at that point, you know it’s going to be a long-term injury.”

The defender detailed the grind: three weeks in a cast, then eight in a boot, barely able to move his foot. Progress came in tiny steps.

“For me, it was just about understanding that’s the situation you’re in and just working towards getting back in the best shape and the best way possible.

“It was just about not getting too far ahead of yourself and kind of chasing small gains and being happy with small gains. You can’t really move your foot in any type of direction at first so right at the beginning of the rehab, it was about when I did get a bit of movement back in my foot, it was about taking that as a win and being positive about it and then after that you’re chasing the next thing and the next thing.”

Celtic have missed his authority and presence. His return, even managed carefully, gives O’Neill a cornerstone to build around as he reshapes the side for another title defence and a tilt at the Champions League.

Sutton sounds £50m warning

Not everyone is convinced that a handful of signings will be enough. Chris Sutton, never shy in his assessment of his former club, believes the scale of the rebuild could push Celtic beyond the £50m mark if they are serious about retaining the Premiership and making a dent in Europe.

“Martin worked wonders last season. I didn’t see Celtic winning the title from the position which he was put in on a couple of occasions,” he told Sky Sports News. “I mean, the run towards the end of the season was extraordinary but I still think you can’t get away from the fact there needs to be a lot of change at Celtic in terms of recruitment.”

The title run-in papered over cracks. Sutton sees them clearly.

“They’ve got the Champions League qualifier which is really important and, however exciting it was for Celtic fans to end up getting over the line last season, you can’t get away from the fact that Celtic struggled at times throughout the season. Martin will be looking to, I’m sure, bring players in.”

Then comes the sting. The outgoing business could hurt as much as the incoming thrills.

“It’ll be interesting to see who goes out from Celtic. It looks like Reo Hatate will go, possibly Daizen Maeda, Arne Engels but they’re big players for the team. Who are Celtic going to replace those type of players with? Celtic are possibly going to have to spend up to or more than £50m really because the squad does need a rebuild.”

If Hatate, Maeda and Engels depart, Celtic lose not just talent but identity and energy. Replacing that spine will define O’Neill’s second season more than any tactical tweak.

Title defence looms large

All of this unfolds against a fixed point on the horizon. On August 3, Celtic begin their Scottish Premiership title defence at home to Dundee, a Monday night 7.30pm kick-off that closes an opening weekend where every top-flight match is live on television.

By then, Duran should be in the building. Oxlade-Chamberlain will be bedded in for a full campaign. Carter‑Vickers, if his comeback continues on schedule, will be closer to full sharpness.

The question is simple and unforgiving: will Celtic have done enough, in the market and on the training pitch, to look like champions in waiting rather than champions clinging to yesterday?