Celtic have agreed a fee for Camilo Duran that is almost double the £3 million previously reported in South America and Azerbaijan, according to The Herald. The Hoops are closing in on the electric forward, who is on his way to Glasgow for a medical, with only finer details left to finalise before their first summer signing is confirmed.
Duran Deal Details
Multiple reports in Azerbaijan and Colombia initially stated Celtic had an initial bid rejected and were set to return with an improved offer. While a £3 million fee had been touted as sufficient, it is now reported that Celtic will pay up to £5.5 million to secure the deal. This sum dwarfs the £200,000 Qarabag paid to sign him from Portimonense 12 months ago and will be the record sale by an Azerbaijani club by a considerable distance.
Tjark Ernst Update
Celtic are reportedly prepared to activate Tjark Ernst's release clause amid talks with Hertha Berlin over a deal for the goalkeeper. The former Germany youth international has been heavily linked with both Celtic and Gio van Bronckhorst's Feyenoord. According to BILD, both clubs are ready to trigger a €5 million (£4.3 million) release clause in his contract. Wolfsburg had also been keen on the shot-stopper, but the report notes Ernst has already turned down that club. It is noted that the Dutch giants and Hoops remain in talks with the Bundesliga 2 outfit and are attempting to negotiate the price down due to Ernst having just a year left on his deal. Hertha Berlin boss Ands Leitl insisted that no deal was imminent, despite the goalkeeper missing the friendly win over Frohnauer SC. Leitl said: "It was planned in advance that Tjark would not be in goal. The intention is for him to play on Wednesday in the friendly in Lichtenberg."
Cole Campbell Move
One star who Celtic look set to miss out on is Cole Campbell. Reports in Germany suggested that the Scottish champions held initial talks with Borussia Dortmund over a deal for the 20-year-old, who spent last season on loan at Hoffenheim, earlier this summer. However, Sky Germany now reports that SV Elversberg are set to snap up the prospect, who had a £6 million valuation, with Dortmund holding a buy-back clause in the deal.
