Martin O’Neill has revealed Celtic had been tracking Camilo Duran for several months before finally completing a deal for the Colombian forward.
While the transfer has only now been completed, the Celtic manager confirmed the club’s interest stretches back to the latter part of last season.
Speaking to the Daily Record, O’Neill said: “We’ve looked at him for a couple of months. We thought about him as far back as April time.
“Again, he’s one of those where, I’ve said this before, if you’re not going to be the manager, then you’re not sure that the next manager fancies some of the players.
“But anyway, we’ve got over the line now. I think he’ll do fine.”
O’Neill’s comments show that Duran was already being considered while there was still uncertainty over who would be in charge of Celtic for the new campaign.
Recruitment can become more difficult when a manager’s future has not been settled, especially when the club must decide whether a possible signing would suit whoever takes over next.
Once O’Neill agreed to remain in charge, Celtic were able to move forward with the deal and bring Duran into the squad.
The forward will now be given time to settle into his new surroundings and learn what his manager expects from him before the competitive action begins.
O’Neill’s final comment was typical of his understated style, but Celtic will hope Duran can add another option to an attack that still requires further work during the transfer window.
Duran’s signing is a start, but the squad is unlikely to be finished as O’Neill looks to make sure Celtic are ready for the early demands of the season.
The fact he had been watched since April also suggests this was not a rushed deal. Celtic had time to assess the player before deciding to make their move.
Now that the transfer is complete, the focus will turn to how quickly Duran can settle and whether he can force his way into O’Neill’s plans from the start.
