Celtic

Martin O'Neill believes new Celtic attacker Camilo Duran has similar qualities to team-mate Daizen Maeda. (Sun, external)

O'Neill says Celtic "are definitely making moves" in the transfer market, with the manager hoping to bring Julian Araujo and Kelechi Iheanacho back to the club while admitting some players will have to move on. (Record, external)

Celtic, Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers are among clubs interested in signing 20-year-old Utrecht forward Adrian Blake, who is valued at £2.5m. (Amar Mehta on X, external)

Tjark Ernst will sign for Feyenoord as Celtic's hunt for a new goalkeeper goes on after the Dutch club met Hertha Berlin's £4.2m release clause. (Record, external)

Wednesday's Scottish gossip

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New Celtic striker Camilo Duran scored on his debut as Martin O'Neill's side were beaten 4-1 by Sporting Lisbon in a pre-season friendly.

The 24-year-old, who is the Glasgow club's only summer signing so far, was named on the bench but was introduced for the final half an hour in Portugal.

Callum Osmand, who spent much of last season on the sidelines with an injury, started up top for O'Neill's men. Central defender Cameron Carter-Vickers, who also missed most of last term through injury, was named in the starting XI.

There were also starts for fringe players Paulo Bernardo and Michel-Ange Balikwisha while centre-back Maik Nawrocki, who spent last season on loan with German side Hannover 96, also featured.

Meanwhile, striker Shin Yamada has joined Belgian Pro League side OH Leuven on a season-long loan.

The 26-year-old joined Celtic from Japanese outfit Kawasaki Frontale in the summer of 2025 but has made just 11 appearances for the Glasgow club.

Celtic are the reigning Premiership champions, but optimism around Parkhead is in short supply.

Charlotte Cohen is joined by Herald sports writer Stephen McGowan and Celtic supporter Asim Rabbani to discuss a dramatic title triumph, the emotional final-day victory over Hearts and why many supporters remain deeply frustrated despite ending last season on top.

The panel examine Martin O'Neill's return for another year, concerns over recruitment, the lack of transfer activity ahead of a crucial Champions League qualifier and uncertainty surrounding several key players.

There's also discussion around Callum McGregor's future, the influence of decision-makers behind the scenes and whether Celtic have learned the lessons from previous transfer windows.

After winning the league in dramatic fashion, can the champions build on success or are familiar problems threatening to hold them back?

Listen: From euphoria to uncertainty at Celtic

Daizen Maeda has reiterated his strong desire to play in the Premier League amid speculation about the 28-year-old Japan forward's future with Celtic. (Pivot, external)

Nottingham Forest have submitted the first official offer of the summer for Celtic midfielder Arne Engels, while Roma are reportedly planning a bid and Villarreal are the latest to express an interest in the 22-year-old. (Voetbal Krant, external)

Manager Martin O'Neill is not aware of any fresh approach from Nottingham Forest for Arne Engels but says Kelechi Iheanacho has been offered a new contract by Celtic, who are waiting for an answer from the 29-year-old striker. (Scottish Sun, external)

Kelechi Iheanacho is weighing up the terms of a new contract offered by Celtic, but the Nigeria striker has other offers. (Anthony Joseph on X, external)

Celtic want to sign Haissem Hassan on a four-year contract and are prepared to offer between £6 and £6.8m for the 24-year-old Egypt winger, while Real Oviedo are insisting on £10.2m but are open to negotiation. (Christian Vaquero on X, external)

Wolfsberger president Dietmar Riegler says they are yet to receive any offers for Nikolas Polster amid reported interest from Celtic in the 24-year-old goalkeeper. (Krone via Daily Record, external)

Lecce are close to signing 18-year-old Celtic striker Filip Skorb, although Sturm Graz are also interested in the Poland Under-19 international, according to reports in Italy. (Daily Record, external)

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

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Ross Grant has reflected on a "surreal" start to life at Celtic and detailed what his role as a set-piece coach entails.

A lifelong fan of the Parkhead club, Grant has joined Martin O'Neill's backroom team after a year at Hearts, where he had a significant impact on their title push.

Celtic ultimately denied the Tynecastle side a historic Scottish Premiership triumph before going on to lift the Scottish Cup.

Despite that domestic success, Grant is confident he can enhance the team's level by making improvements from dead-ball scenarios.

Speaking on the Official Celtic Podcast, he explained how his role is "heavy on analysis", not just of Celtic but of opposition sides, "seeing where we can get success" and looking at "where other teams can get success against us".

"A lot of stuff I can do is also built into the style of play," he adds. "There still has to be an element of speed and intensity to the game."

So what does that look like for a team like Celtic?

Being a side that dominates possession for the majority of domestic games, Grant referenced not allowing teams "to rest when we get a set-play".

He also touched on using "creativity and innovation" to make the most of set-pieces, though not making "radical changes" but instead giving "clarity to roles" and "a little bit of simplicity".

His influence at Hearts last term was clear. In his only season in Gorgie, a third of the team's league goals came from set-pieces, while no side managed a higher tally than their total of 23.

And the Celtic fan, who is now working with O'Neill after watching him guide his boyhood heroes to domestic honours and a Uefa Cup final, is determined he can replicate that success at the club he has supported all his life.

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill is resigned to losing 28-year-old Japan forward Daizen Maeda and 22-year-old Belgian midfielder Arne Engels this summer. (Daily Record, external)

Martin O'Neill would love to keep Daizen Maeda at Celtic this summer and allow him to run down the final year of his contract, as club legend Henrik Larsson did more than two decades ago. (The Herald, external)

Martin O'Neill plans to have a discussion with Celtic captain Callum McGregor about his future after the midfielder switched agents amid reports of interest from other clubs in the 33-year-old. (Glasgow Times, external)

Kelechi Iheanacho is training beside Newcastle United and Denmark striker William Osula at the Seedorf Football Academy in Manchester with Celtic manager Martin O'Neill saying he is still interested in re-signing the 29-year-old forward. (Scottish Sun, external)

Negotiations between Feyenoord and current club Hertha Berlin regarding the transfer of goalkeeper Tjark Ernst are progressing, with Celtic and Wolfsburg also interested in the 23-year-old goalkeeper. (Kicker, external)

Brondby sporting director Julius Ohnesorge has admitted they are open to selling Benjamin Tahirovic but says there has been no approach from Celtic for the 23-year-old midfielder. (The National, external)

Millwall have entered the race for Celtic striker Johnny Kenny with Bolton Wanderers also interested in signing the 23-year-old on a permanent basis after helping them win promotion to the Championship while on loan. (Alan Nixon on Patreon, external)

Read Monday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Celtic are interested in making a move for 22-year-old Manchester United goalkeeper Radek Vitek this summer. (Football Insider, external)

Reims are open to selling Mory Gbane amid concrete interest in the 27-year-old midfielder from Celtic, Trabzonspor and West Ham United. (Foot Mercato, external)

Celtic's chances of signing 24-year-old Egypt forward Haissem Hassan are improving as Real Oviedo prepare to accept a lower offer for his services. (Football Insider, external)

Celtic face competition from Argentine club Estudiantes de La Plata to land 28-year-old left-back Marcelo Saracchi, who has been placed on the transfer list by Boca Juniors after his loan spell with the Scottish champions. (Herald - subscription required, external)

Fulham have agreed to sign 16-year-old Celtic winger Erskine Rennie, with the Scottish academy product set to cost £100,000 in compensation. (Sky Sports, external)

Sunday's Scottish gossip

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill says the club's chief executive Michael Nicholson "has spoken to" the agent of striker Kelechi Iheanacho, and "it's the same with" left-back Marcelo Saracchi, with both having been in Glasgow last season and linked with a return. (Daily Record, external)

Boca Juniors have put Uruguay international Saracchi, 28, up for sale. (Sun, external)

But O'Neill is not drawn on speculated Celtic interest in Reims midfielder Mory Gbane, 25. (Glasgow Times, external)

Saturday's Scottish football gossip

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Prospective signing Camilo Duran, 24, has been pictured training with Celtic in Portugal, with the Qarabag winger expected to complete a move to Martin O'Neill's side soon. (The Herald - subscription required, external)

The embassy of Azerbaijan in London has congratulated Qarabag on the record transfer of Camilo Duran to Celtic, with the Scottish champions yet to confirm the signing. (Scottish Sun, external)

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Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain says he is relishing the prospect of a "proper season" at Celtic after agreeing to stay on with the Scottish champions.

The 32-year-old former Arsenal and Liverpool midfielder initially joined Martin O'Neill's side on a short-term deal in February.

Having been out of action for nine months, Oxlade-Chamberlain played 550 minutes over 12 appearances, scoring twice.

"I'm just delighted that it's been able to get done and excited to come in at the start of this season to feel like I've got a proper season with the boys and a pre-season," he said in a club media interview.

Oxlade-Chamberlain enjoyed league and Scottish Cup celebrations in May, with Celtic overhauling long-time leaders Hearts on the final day to defend their Premiership title before beating Dunfermline Athletic at Hampden.

"I just think the whole experience," he said when asked why he wanted to experience another campaign in Scotland. "It wasn't straightforward at all for us for the back end of that season and how exciting it was. Obviously a dream ending for us all.

"I really liked the changing room, the lads, the manager, the coaching staff. I really enjoyed the challenge the whole time.

"And then it was just a no-brainer for me. Just the fans and how special it was to see that and feel that and be a part of that. I was just delighted and really excited to be able to try and do that for one more year."

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Celtic are preparing to go "all out" to compete with Bologna - who are said to be in "pole position" in the race to sign Scotland Kieron Bowie from Hellas Verona. (Corriere di Verona via Daily Record), external

Manager Martin O'Neill says Celtic are pursuing deals to re-sign 29-year-old striker Kelechi Iheanacho and 28-year-old left-back Marcelo Saracchi, who was on loan from Boca Juniors. (The Herald - subscription required), external

Celtic have bid £3.4m for 24-year-old Real Oviedo winger Haissem Hassan, who starred for Egypt at the World Cup. (Fondo Seguna via Glasgow Times), external

Celtic would have to stump up £10m to land Egypt World Cup winger Haissem Hassan after his new transfer release clause from Real Oviedo was revealed. (The National - subscription reequired), external

Martin O'Neill says one of the reasons it took a fortnight to confirm his backroom staff was because he had delayed his decision about whether he wanted to take the Celtic manager's job permanently. (The Herald, external)

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Scotland is in for another three-way title race this coming season, former Celtic captain Scott Brown has predicted.

Celtic retained the title on the final day of last season with a home win over Hearts to overtake the long-time leaders, with Rangers having slipped to third in the final weeks.

Since then, Hearts have lost head coach Derek McInnes to Rangers, replacing him with former Sint-Truiden boss Wouter Vrancken, while Celtic have given veteran Martin O'Neill the manager's job full-time after he did so well in interim charge.

"I think it's going to be a three-legged race yet again," Brown said, speaking at the Scottish Open golf pro-am.

"I think Hearts have been an actual delight for Scottish football. They've done really, really well. I thought Derek did a fantastic job and Martin's come in at the right point in time.

"If Martin was there for the whole time, Celtic win the league, nice and easy, but Del's went to Rangers now and he's a very, very good man-manager and he brings out the best of people.

"Looking at what he does and how he deals with his team, he'll bring in some more Scottish people, English-based people, that understand the club and the culture as well, which, to be fair, I think Celtic's done really well over the years."

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Celtic have agreed to pay £5.5m to secure Qarabag winger Camilo Duran as their first summer signing and the 24-year-old is on his way to complete the deal in Glasgow. (The Herald), external

Celtic are closing in on the signing of Qarabag forward Camilo Duran for an initial £3m rising to a possible £6m. (Anthony Joseph on X), external

Colombian Camilo Duran is expecting to arrive in Glasgow on Thursday to sign a four-year contract with Celtic. (George Tsarouchas on X), external

Liverpool have sealed a deal to sign Scotland Under-16 captain Dara Jikiemi from Celtic on a five-year contract. (Fabrizio Romano on X), external

Celtic winger Yang Hyun-jun could potentially miss the first derby with Rangers on Sunday, September 20 after being included in South Korea's squad for the Asian Games. (Scottish Sun), external

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Cameron Carter-Vickers played his first game since picking up an Achilles injury in October as Celtic drew 1-1 with Shelbourne in their first public pre-season friendly.

The injury picked up by the 28-year-old United States centre-half in a Europa League win over Sturm Graz meant he missed the World Cup as well as Celtic's Scottish league and cup double.

"At first, I just thought I had a bit of cramp in my calf," Carter-Vickers told Celtic TV.

"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.

"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. I was in a cast for three weeks then a boot for eight."

Carter-Vickers played the first half of the friendly against the side currently sitting fifth in the League of Ireland Premier Division.

Maik Nawrocki, who has returned from his loan from Hannover, was among the second-half replacements.

Former Grimsby Town midfielder Harry Wood gave Shelbourne the lead from the penalty spot with just two minutes remaining.

However, there was still time for Shin Yamada, the forward who has returned from his loan to Preußen Münster, to equalise from a spot kick.

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Celtic have agreed to pay the asking fee for Qarabag's Colombian winger Camilo Duran, 24. (Futbol Info - in Azerbaijani, external)

Tuesday's Scottish gossip

Independiente are considering a move for Marcelo Saracchi after Boca Juniors rejected Celtic's approach to take the 28-year-old left-back on a second loan spell, according to sources in Argentina. (Record, external)

Hertha Berlin head coach Stefan Leitl reveals it was always planned for Tjark Ernst to miss their 15-0 friendly match victory in Frohnau, but the 23-year-old goalkeeper is scheduled to play in Lichtenberg on Wednesday despite Celtic and Feyenoord being prepared to trigger his £4.3m release clause. (Bild, external)

Sandefjord are poised to sell Zinedin Smajlovic for a club record £5.1m to Olympiacos having rejected a £3.5m offer from Celtic for the 22-year-old central defender. (Expressen via Glasgow Times, external)

Monday's Scottish gossip

Celtic are interested in striker Tobias Lauritsen, who has left Sparta Rotterdam, along with Leicester City, while Sampdoria are actively pursuing the 28-year-old, according to Il Secolo XIX. (Martin Crawford on X), external

Celtic plan to open talks with Anthony Ralston over a new contract with the 27-year-old Scotland right-back entering the final year of his current deal. (Daily Record, external)

Camilo Duran's agent arrived in Scotland on Saturday for talks with Celtic to seal a transfer from Qarabag and a multi-year contract for the 24-year-old striker. (George Tsarouchas on X, external)

Orgryte sports director Pontus Farnerud has admitted there is interest in Celtic-linked defender Michael Parker but refused to confirm an offer has been made for the 21-year-old who is valued at £1.5m. (The Herald), external

Read Sunday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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