Celtic have had an opening bid rejected for Qarabag centre-forward Camilo Duran as the Scottish champions look to bolster their attacking options this summer.
The Azerbaijani club are holding firm over their valuation of the Colombian marksman, who has attracted widespread attention following an impressive 2025/26 campaign.
Manager Martin O’Neill is understood to want two new number nines added to his squad during the off-season transfer window.
Duran, who is 24 years old, is contracted at Qarabag until the summer of 2028, giving the club significant leverage in any negotiations over his future.
Celtic were working towards a deal in the region of £2.5 million for the forward, but Qarabag are reportedly seeking a club-record fee of £2 million for his services.
The Colombian joined Qarabag from Portuguese outfit Portimonense for under £200,000 last summer, making the potential profit on his sale a remarkable turnaround for the Azerbaijani club.
Duran enjoyed an outstanding debut season in Azerbaijan, registering 25 goal contributions across 45 appearances in all competitions throughout the campaign.
His individual numbers were equally impressive, with the striker scoring 15 goals and providing 10 assists while also netting five times on the European stage in the Champions League.
Interest in Duran is not limited to Celtic, with clubs from both Europe and South America also understood to be monitoring his situation closely.
O’Neill faces a significant rebuilding job in his attacking department, with Kelechi Iheanacho now a free agent after his contract expired following May’s Scottish Cup final.
Tomas Cvancara and Junior Adamu both returned to their parent clubs after their respective loan spells at Celtic Park failed to deliver the desired impact.
The recruitment team will need to move quickly if they are to secure Duran’s signature ahead of the competition that his form has generated across the continent.
