A few days ago The Celtic Star reported that a Benfica insider account on Twitter, @M10infos, thanked Jota for his service to Benfica and urged him to “Fly high, kid”, suggesting that a move to Celtic was nearing it’s completion as we head into the summer transfer window. It set the pulse racing a little faster for this writer anyway.

The same account has now made the revelation that Celtic were looking to secure a similar deal – with an initial loan with option-to-buy inserted for €7 million – for another Benfica rising star, Paulo Bernardo. From what I understand, the player is an attacking midfielder who has made significant progress this past while with the Portuguese outfit.

Gil Vicente’s Portuguese defender Ze Carlos (2R) heads the ball past Benfica’s Portuguese midfielder Paulo Bernardo (R) during the Portuguese league football match between SL Benfica and Gil Vicente FC at the Luz stadium in Lisbon on February 2, 2022. (Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP) (Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP via Getty Images)

Bernardo had featured 17 times last season for Benfica, with 5 of those coming in the Chamions League, so the kid has pedigree for sure. Transfermarkt.co.uk have him valued at around £4.5 million, although the deal which Celtic offered was considerably more than this valuation for a burgeoning talent.

Celtic procurou saber as condições junto do Benfica de levar Paulo Bernardo para Glasgow.
Foi feita uma proposta de empréstimo com opção de compra de 7 milhões com o Benfica a ficar com parte do passe, um negócio semelhante ao de Jota…Para já foi recusado, o jogador quer ficar. pic.twitter.com/WQjTvMz15r

— M10 (@M10infos) June 5, 2022

With the success of Jota it is no wonder this is an avenue and marketplace in which Celtic are surveying once again as they look to shop smart this summer. Rumours of a reunion with Jota would make sense also, now that Tom Rogic has left and there is room for an attacking midfielder at the club.

The sad news is that the account relayed the fact the proposal has in fact been turned down by the player himself, as he wishes to stay and fight for his place in the Liga Portugal side. It’s still good regardless to hear that Celtic have many respective interests in top class talent all over the globe. Reports are landing daily from across the world that Celtic interest is rife in the market. Some will just be smoke of course, but with this deal there seems to be a reasonable amount of fire in regards the validity of it.

Paul Gillespie