After a slow start to the summer, Celtic are finally making significant progress in the transfer market.

As first reported by Stephen McGowan of the Herald, the Scottish champions are hoping to complete deals for Haissem Hassan and Mika Baur in time for both players to be registered for the Champions League play-off against LASK.

Hassan is close to joining from Real Oviedo in a deal reportedly worth around £9 million. The 24-year-old winger impressed during Egypt’s World Cup campaign and would add pace, directness and another attacking option to Martin O’Neill’s squad.

Baur, meanwhile, would strengthen the midfield. The 22-year-old Paderborn player has been a long-standing Celtic target, with negotiations having previously stalled, but the move now appears to be progressing.

His potential arrival could be particularly significant given continued uncertainty surrounding Arne Engels, with West Ham maintaining an interest in the Belgian.

Celtic have already added Camilo Duran and club-record signing Kasper Høgh this summer, meaning Hassan and Baur would take the number of major first-team additions to four.

That represents a notable change from earlier in the window, when Celtic’s lack of activity prompted concerns over their ability to strengthen sufficiently for another Champions League campaign.

The urgency is now clear.

Celtic want Hassan and Baur available for the LASK tie, a fixture carrying enormous sporting and financial importance. Qualification would provide another significant injection of revenue and allow O’Neill to take his side into the Champions League with a stronger squad.

There is still work to do, particularly in other areas of the team and with several players’ futures unresolved, most notably those of Arne Engels and Alistair Johnston.

But after weeks of frustration, Celtic’s summer recruitment is finally beginning to gather momentum.