Botero described a player transformed by football from a turbulent youth into a driven, resilient competitor. O'Neill has already highlighted Duran's hold-up play as a particular strength — a quality Celtic will need if the forward is to lead the line in domestic dominance as he did in Azerbaijan.

His physicality was on show at St James' Park in February, when he outpaced Dan Burn before finishing coolly past Aaron Ramsdale. That kind of performance against top-flight opposition will have caught Celtic's attention.

O'Neill, speaking in Drumcondra after Celtic's 1-1 friendly with Shelbourne, acknowledged that reinforcements are coming.