Celtic’s summer rebuild is beginning to make a serious impact on the pitch.
Martin O’Neill wanted proven quality after guiding the club to another domestic double, and the champions have backed him with four senior additions.
Camilo Duran arrived from Qarabağ before Celtic broke their transfer record to sign Kasper Høgh from Bodo/Glimt. Egypt winger Haissem Hassan then joined from Real Oviedo, with German midfielder Mika Baur following from Paderborn.
That spending has been balanced by several departures. Daizen Maeda moved to Ipswich, while Luis Palma, Kelechi Iheanacho and Paulo Bernardo also left the first team picture.
The biggest exit was Arne Engels, with West Ham splashing £22 million on the Belgium international, giving Celtic another major profit but removing an important source of energy and creativity from O’Neill’s midfield.
Early evidence suggests the recruitment work has strengthened Celtic’s attack.
The Scottish champions demolished LASK 3-0 in the first leg of their Champions League play-off at Parkhead, putting themselves within touching distance of the league phase.
Benjamin Nygren opened the scoring with a brilliant finish before Duran struck twice. The Colombian’s first was a fierce volley, while his second completed a flowing move involving Høgh and Nygren.
Baur also made his first start and helped Celtic cope without Engels in the middle of the pitch. LASK had two efforts ruled out and created chances, but the home side were far more ruthless.
Celtic must still finish the job in Austria on Tuesday, but the first leg demonstrated why the club invested so heavily on the likes of Duran in particular.
Their recruitment may not be finished yet either.
Celtic have been linked with Slovan Liberec playmaker Ermin Mahmic this window, and there has been a key development this week.
Ermin Mahmić ‘waves goodbye’ to Liberec fans as he prepares for Celtic move
The Daily Record’s live transfer blog, citing reports from the Czech media, claim that Mahmić has offered a major indication that he is leaving Liberec for the Bhoys.
The 21-year-old watched Slovan’s 1-1 draw with Slavia Prague from the stands before joining his teammates on the field and acknowledging the home support.
|
Ermin Mahmić for Bosnia at the 2026 World Cup |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Opponent |
Stage |
Result |
Role |
Minutes |
Goals |
Assists |
Yellow cards |
|
Canada |
Group B |
1-1 |
Unused substitute |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Switzerland |
Group B |
Lost 4-1 |
Substitute |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Qatar |
Group B |
Won 3-1 |
Substitute |
26 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
USA |
Round of 32 |
Lost 2-0 |
Substitute |
39 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Tournament total |
Four matches |
One win, one draw, two defeats |
Three appearances, no starts |
66 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
Reports from the Czech Republic have presented those scenes as an ’emotional goodbye’, and it is believed he ‘will continue his career with Celtic’.
There is no official announcement from either club. However, Mahmic has not featured in Slovan’s opening league fixtures while discussions over his future have continued.
Slovan are believed to value him at between roughly £6 million to £7 million.
Mahmic only joined Slovan from Austrian side Lafnitz last summer. He scored seven league goals during his first campaign in the Czech top flight before increasing his profile at the World Cup.
Born in Austria, he represented both Austria and Bosnia at youth level before committing his senior future to Bosnia, scoring twice at the World Cup in front of the eyes of billions.
Mahmic is primarily an attacking midfielder, although he can also operate centrally or from the right.
