Celtic have made a bold £17m statement by signing strikers Kasper Hogh and Camilo Duran, and former Hoops midfielder Paul Hartley believes they can form a devastating partnership under Martin O'Neill. The Danish and Colombian forwards could be the missing pieces as Celtic look to challenge for silverware after finishing third last season with 67 points from 33 games.
How can Hogh and Duran play together?
Hartley points to O'Neill's past success with two-striker systems, including Henrik Larsson, John Hartson and Chris Sutton. 'There's no harm in getting two strikers up the pitch,' says Hartley, who played alongside Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Scott McDonald. 'Martin is a clever cookie, he knows the game.' The Hoops could use a 3-5-2 or 4-4-2 formation to accommodate both new signings.
Why these signings matter for Celtic
With Maeda leaving, Celtic needed quality up front. Hogh scored five Champions League goals last season, including strikes against Atletico Madrid and Man City. Duran impressed at Qarabag. 'They are probably still short of another striker,' admits Hartley, 'but these two look like they can score goals.' The Hoops scored 59 goals last season but conceded 35, finishing three points behind leaders Heart of Midlothian.
What comes next for the Hoops?
Celtic's next fixture is at home to Motherwell on December 26, 2026. With Benjamin Nygren sidelined, O'Neill will need his new strikers to hit the ground running. Hartley insists: 'If Hogh scores 25 goals and does well in Europe, then it’s worth the price.' The board has faced criticism for slow transfer activity, but these signings may have silenced some doubters.
