Celtic have already made their first move of the summer, signing Camilo Duran from Qarabag on a five-year deal for around £6m. He is the first new arrival, not the last word on the position. Links to Kieron Bowie are still active, and the conflicting numbers around that deal suggest Celtic's forward rebuild is broader, messier and probably more expensive than one early signing might imply.
Duran is the start, not the finish
The sequence matters here. Celtic moved first for Duran, bringing in a striker who scored 15 goals for Qarabag last season, including 5 in the Champions League. For a fee around £6m, that looks like a signing built on output rather than hype.
It also fits a wider point about the squad. Chris Sutton told skysports.com: "I think that Celtic are possibly going to have to spend up to or more than £50m really because the squad does need a rebuild."
That can sound aggressive when the champions have still finished on 82 points and closed the league campaign with five straight wins. But Sutton's reading is sensible enough. A title-winning team can still need surgery in key areas, and striker is plainly one of the spots Celtic are not treating as solved by a single deal.
Sutton made the same point more directly when he said: "Celtic struggled at times throughout the season. So, Martin will be looking to, I'm sure, bring players in."
Duran's arrival supports that view rather than settling it. He gives Celtic a new option with European scoring numbers behind him, but the continued interest elsewhere suggests the club are planning for more than one shape of forward line. That is usually what happens when recruitment staff think they may need cover, competition or protection against exits.
The Bowie valuation problem
The next part of the story is less straightforward. Hellas Verona's valuation of Bowie is not being reported as one clean figure.
One report has Verona wanting £13m. Another has the asking price at €12m. A separate report describes Bowie as £10m-rated and says Celtic have not made recent contact. The sensible conclusion is that the market around him is unsettled, not that one of those prices has already won.
That uncertainty matters to Celtic because the difference between a £10m pursuit and a deal closer to £13m changes the whole feel of the move. At the lower end, Bowie looks like a serious but manageable addition alongside Duran. At the top end, he starts to look like another major outlay in the same position.
There is similar noise around what Verona paid for him in January. Some reports put that fee at £5.5m, others at €6m. The exact base number is less important than the point it leads to: Verona would be trying to sell from a position that protects their upside.
Celtic are not alone here either. Bologna and Sassuolo have also been mentioned in the chase, which is enough to keep pressure on any negotiation. Bowie also has a link to Scottish football through Hibernian, which is part of why the story has stayed live on this side of the border.
The wider rebuild around the forward line
This is where the timeline from Duran to Bowie tells you more than either name on his own. Celtic have added one forward with proven recent production, yet the reporting around another striker has not cooled. That usually points to a club building layers rather than ticking a box.
There is a separate strand in the market as well. David Fernandez, speaking about Oviedo's transfer policy, said: "One of the main reasons I came was to interact with the ownership. I've been involved in every decision that's been made. Haissem Hassan is owned by Oviedo. We will have a firm firm policy for bringing in players and managing departures."
Hassan is not the centre of Celtic's current striker discussion, but that quote is a useful reminder of the mood around this window more generally. Selling clubs are trying to stay in control, and buyers are running into firmer pricing and slower movement.
For Celtic, the clearest reading is that Duran was an opening move, not a finishing move. The club have secured a striker with 15 goals last season and 5 in the Champions League, but the Bowie links and Sutton's rebuild warning both point the same way. Celtic open their title defence at home to Dundee on August 3 at 7:30pm, and the forward line still looks like one of the areas most likely to change again before then.
FAQ
Why are Celtic still chasing another striker after signing Camilo Duran?
Celtic's move for Camilo Duran does not appear to finish their summer work up front. Duran is the club's first new signing and arrives for around £6m on a five-year deal, but reports still link Celtic with Kieron Bowie. Chris Sutton has also argued the squad needs a broader rebuild, not just one addition.
How much did Celtic pay for Camilo Duran and what is his record?
Celtic signed Camilo Duran from Qarabag for around £6m on a five-year contract. He scored 15 goals for Qarabag last season, with 5 of those coming in the Champions League. That output helps explain why Celtic moved early to bring him in.
What is Kieron Bowie's price and are Celtic close to signing him?
Bowie's valuation is not settled. Reports have placed him at £13m, €12m and £10m-rated, so there is no single agreed figure. Celtic are being linked with him, but there is also a report saying the club have not made recent contact, so it is too early to treat a deal as close.
Why has Chris Sutton said Celtic may need to spend more than £50m?
Sutton's view is that Celtic need a wider squad rebuild this summer. He said the club may have to spend up to or more than £50m, and he tied that to the way Celtic struggled at times last season. Even after finishing on 82 points, he sees room for more recruitment.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 5 outlets. How we work →