Celtic could be set to welcome new Matt O’Riley

Celtic will be looking to add to their attacking ranks under manager Martin O’Neill before the summer transfer window closes in early September.

The Hoops scored 73 goals in the Scottish Premiership to win the title last season, 39 fewer than the 112 scored under Brendan Rodgers in the 2024/25 campaign.

None of O’Neill’s players have hit double figures in both goals and assists, with no player recording more than eight assists, and the Northern Irish boss must look for new players to provide a dual threat in the final third.

The Scottish giants need to land another star in the form of midfielder Matt O’Riley, who scored 18 goals and 13 assists for Rogers in the Premiership in the 2023/24 campaign.

His incredible form for the club at the top end of the pitch convinced Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion to make a record £25m bid for his services in the summer of 2024.

Celtic close deal to sign £3m striker

He was able to provide a constant threat as a scorer and goal creator from the attacking midfield, making him a key player in the team as he could make things happen in a variety of ways.

Now, the Premiership champions are aiming to sign a player who will arrive at Parkhead with similar qualifications to give O’Neill and the squad next season.

According to journalist George Tsarouchas, Celtic are closing the gap to sign Qarabag player Camilo Duran in the transfer window.

The reporter says the club is ‘very close’ to agreeing a deal with the club The Azerbaijani outfit will bring the Colombian marque to Parkhead in the coming weeks.

He went on to say that the player’s agent arrived in Glasgow on Saturday to move forward with negotiations regarding the star, which will need to be agreed upon before the deal goes ahead.

It was previously reported that Qarabag wanted around £3m for the 24-year-old striker, and it remains to be seen if the Hoops are ready to pay that fee.

How Camilo Duran could be Celtic’s next Matt O’Riley

Duran usually plays as a midfielder or as a right winger and is not an attacking midfielder or central player like O’Riley, but he can provide similar qualities with his ability to score and create goals.

The Denmark international was a major threat to the Scottish giants as he had the ability to score and create goals regularly, hitting double figures in both goals and assists in his final season in Glasgow.

Duran’s performances for Qarabag in every competition in the 2025/26 campaign suggest he has the potential to become an O’Riley-esque player for the club at the other end of the pitch.

Although his return was not as difficult as O’Riley’s was in Celtic’s 2023/24 campaign, he was not playing for a club as dominant as Rodgers’ Hoops.

Qarabag finished second and scored 73 goals in the league in the 2025/26 season, while Celtic won the league scoring 95 goals while playing in midfield.

The Colombian striker can provide more goals and help a team with more power and attack to show his talent in the final third, after scoring nine goals and providing nine assists in the league last term.

His form in the Champions League also suggests that he has the potential to make the jump from Qarabag to the Premiership, as he has scored five goals in ten games in the European Premier Cup.

He scored against Benfica, Ajax, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Newcastle United, showing that he has the goalscoring pedigree to make an impact against top-quality opposition, suggesting he will have few problems adjusting to Scottish football.

So Duran could be the player the Hoops have been looking for since selling O’Riley to Brighton, even if he is not an attacking midfielder, as he has the potential to score two goals and the most goals in the league.

I hope they reach an agreement on personal terms with the player and agree a fee with Qarabag to bring the top player to Parkhead before next season.