Celtic could sign new ‘£100m winger’

Celtic’s preparations for the 2026/27 campaign got off to a flying start on Tuesday evening, when the Scottish champions drew 1-1 with Shelbourne away to Ireland.

It took a late penalty from the returning Shin Yamada to set things right for the visitors, as Martin O’Neill’s men entered the field without a single new summer signing.

However, as O’Neill himself has confirmed, that looks set to change as a matter of when and if not, with Colombian striker Camilo Duran being tested ahead of his arrival in Qarabag.

The 24-year-old, who scored five goals in the Champions League last season, will join for a reported fee of around £6m, which is likely to prove the first of many when it comes to reinforcements at Parkhead.

Celtic could see a bid accepted for a second signing behind Duran

Speaking after the club’s first pre-season game, O’Neill revealed that Duran’s arrival would be followed by other moves in the coming weeks, with the 74-year-old suggesting there were “a number of players” being looked at.

Among those on the transfer shortlist could be Motherwell’s Elijah Just, as it has been reported that the Hoops may want to accelerate their interest in the in-form Kiwi.

The 26-year-old has boosted his reputation after scoring three goals in just three World Cup games in New Zealand, ensuring Celtic will be fighting to sign him.

It may be the same with another star of the World Cup, Haissem Hassan, when the Daily Record reports that the giants of Glasgow are still in the race to sign this Egyptian player.

Indeed, the belief is that any suitors could make a deal worth around £10m, with the 24-year-old’s release clause dropping from £16m, following Real Oviedo’s recent relegation.

There could be an opportunity to negotiate a fee closer to £4m, according to the report, although the Spanish side would have to hand over 40% of the transfer fee to the midfielder’s former club, Villarreal.

How did you compare Hassan to Elijah Just

It was a breakout star season in 2025/26, be it Benjamin Nygren, Claudio Braga or that man Just, who all arrived from Scandinavia last summer.

In Just’s case, he was on loan at parent club Horsens playing in Austria’s second division in 2024/25, before tearing it up in the Premiership last week, scoring 14 goals and assisting at Fir Park.

Add to that his World Cup heroics, and it’s easy to see why Just enjoys so much interest, at least from those at Parkhead.

And yet, having seen Hassan in action again in recent weeks, the Egyptian is a real sensation, hailed as a “£100m winger” by Secret Scout.

That praise came after the winger’s stunning performance against Argentina on Tuesday evening, a left-footed assist for Zico to make it 2-0 on the night, following a brilliant turn and backhand from the spot.

Prior to that, Hassan was heavily involved in his team-mate’s controversial goal disallowance, weaving through a sea of ​​defenders down the right flank in a spectacular fashion.

It was the kind of run that has often belonged to the other men on the pitch, in the form of Lionel Messi and Mohamed Salah, marking a great way to boost his name in his second outing at the competition.

The £10m pacer was part of the Oviedo side that returned to the second division last season, registering zero goals and just three assists in LaLiga.

That may not match Just’s stats, although Hassan has been running in one of Europe’s top five leagues, having produced more than enough to suggest he could break out in the Premiership.

Indeed, his average of 1.6 successful tackles per game in 2025/26 comfortably surpassed Just’s average of 1.3, highlighting just how formidable the Oviedo star still is down the right flank.

Compared to his teammates or attacking midfielders in Europe’s five major leagues last season, Hassan ranked in the top 1% for productive ball drives and the top 7% for successful dribbles per 90, while he also ranked in the top 1% for active plays and the top 5% for active actions.

In fact, he’s a master at getting his team on the pitch with a combination of speed and tactics, as seen with Messi and his teammates this week, with an end product to match, as he’s also ranked in the top 10% for shots.

The fact that he is already performing at such a level in an elite league like LaLiga means that what he can offer Celtic, Just, who is 26 years old, has yet to prove himself at a high level so far.

At a time when Celtic’s front line is crying out for a new injection of strength and direction, Hassan could be the player to provide that.