O’Neill confident Duran deal will only be start of Celtic summer signings

Celtic’s summer transfer window has been unusually quiet so far, but Martin O’Neill is signalling a shift in pace. The manager expects Camilo Duran’s impending move from Qarabag to mark just the beginning of the club’s business before the new season, with the Hoops preparing to defend their Scottish Premiership title under mounting pressure to strengthen a squad that has looked threadbare in key areas.

Duran edges closer as first summer arrival

The 24-year-old defender is set to complete a £6m deal after passing a medical, following a standout 2025-26 campaign with Qarabag in which he contributed five goals in the Champions League. His arrival would provide immediate competition in a defensive unit where Celtic have been thin on cover, particularly at left-back where competition for first-team minutes has been limited. O’Neill’s comments suggest Duran is only the first of several additions. “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.”

Frustration mounts over transfer delays

Fans have grown restless as the club’s summer activity has stalled, with the frustration compounded by the fact that Celtic’s opening fixture—a home tie against Dundee on August 3—is just weeks away. The lack of movement has raised questions about the club’s recruitment strategy, particularly after Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s contract extension in January, which followed his initial short-term deal. O’Neill’s optimism about imminent signings is a direct response to these concerns, with his insistence that “really decent players” are on the way suggesting the club is close to finalising multiple deals. The manager’s tone implies that Duran’s arrival is merely the opening act, not the headline of a quiet window, but the clock is ticking for the club to substantiate that confidence.

The Hoops’ transfer business has been glacial compared to rivals, who have already made significant moves to address squad weaknesses. With the Premiership season looming, Celtic cannot afford to delay much longer without risking a repeat of last season’s late scramble, which saw key positions filled in emergency fashion. O’Neill’s comments carry weight, but the club must now convert words into tangible signings.

Injury cloud lifts as Carter-Vickers returns

Defender Cameron Carter-Vickers made his first competitive appearance since October, playing the first half of Celtic’s 1-1 draw with Shelbourne. The match, which featured late penalties for both sides, offered a rare glimpse of the American international’s fitness, though the contest itself—against a League of Ireland side—provided limited tactical insight. Carter-Vickers revealed the extent of his Achilles injury, describing the initial misdiagnosis of a calf strain before scans confirmed a rupture. “At first, I just thought I had a bit of cramp in my calf,” he said. “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.” His return is a welcome boost for a defence that has lacked stability, with Carter-Vickers’ experience and aerial presence adding a dimension that has been missing since his injury.

The tactical implications of his recovery are clear. His presence adds depth to a backline that has struggled with injuries, while Duran’s potential arrival would further bolster options. O’Neill’s comments about “very decent players” already at the club hint at a squad that is stronger than the transfer window suggests, but the manager’s emphasis on imminent signings underscores the need for reinforcements. With the Premiership season just weeks away, the window for action is narrowing, and the pressure on O’Neill to deliver is intensifying.

Celtic’s summer transfer window has been a study in contrasts: a club with a strong core of players yet hamstrung by a lack of activity in the market. Duran’s move, if completed, would be the first of several, but the club must move swiftly to address the gaps that have been exposed in recent seasons. O’Neill’s confidence in an accelerated transfer window is a signal to supporters that the club is finally ready to act, but the proof will be in the signings. The manager’s words carry weight—now the club must deliver before the August 3 curtain-raiser against Dundee.