Celtic are closing in on the signing of Paulo Bernardo from Benfica. The Portuguese midfielder spent last season on loan at Celtic as Brendan Rodgers’ side won the Premiership and a Scottish Cup.
As reported by Record Sport, Celtic hope that a deal can be done before Brendan takes his players to the USA for pre-season.
The report states that the player is keen on the return immediately and the deal is all but agreed. Celtic and the Portuguese club are discussing potential add-ons, such as the sell-on fee. Hopefully, a deal can be done in the coming days to alleviate some anxiety amongst the supporters over the lack of transfers completed.
Celtic have been actively working to retain the midfielder, who provided some key moments throughout the campaign. During the season, Bernardo scored four goals and three assists in his 34 appearances. The 22-year-old scored in the December Glasgow Derby win over Rangers and helped make the goal that beat Rangers in the Scottish Cup Final, collecting the ball from midfield, riding a tackle and forcing Butland into an error, which Adam Idah capitalised on.
Celtic will be working to bring both Bernardo and Idah back to the club this summer on permanent deals. Both players appear to be keen on making a return; however, Celtic appear to be in discussions with Norwich over the £6m transfer for the Irish International.
Patience is wearing extremely thin now with this Board. If you want the guy agree terms and get the deal done.
Same with Idah.
Same for the left back.
Same with the goalkeeper or are we going to haggle until the cows come home and play Mr Blobby in goals.
We’re spending money on a training centre and at this rate we will have no players to train in it.
It is embarrassing that our club operates every year like this.
As much as any permanent signing would be very welcome at this stage, Paulo and idah are hardly the top of list for the USA trip either imo?
We already know what both will bring to ourselves next season, and no need for a settling in period to our club required either?
However, the same claim can’t be made regarding the keeper position?
Possibly the strongest relationship within any team, is the understanding formed between keeper and CBs imo?
We may be in the market to add another CB, but it’s not of the highest priority for this trip, even though it would be useful for ourselves all the same?
But not having a potential no1 keeper in place, is nothing more than shambolic in preparation terms for a new season only weeks away now?
With the quality of the opposition we will be facing, then a decent defensive workout is to be expected.
Yet we currently stand to miss out on much needed communication and understanding been formed between keeper and CBs?
Madness really when this issue has been in the offering for months now, and nothing concrete to suggest that this major issue within our team, is even close to getting resolved still?
Can understand giving the likes of monty and Anderson an opportunity in the LB position, especially when Taylor is still available?
Paulo and idah will help boost our squad for the matches in the USA, which sounds like a great pre season trip to help ourselves getting up to speed for the start of the season.
Hopefully it does get resolved before the plane takes off, and still time for it to happen still?
If not then it’s a shambolic situation to put ourselves in, and don’t think any excuses cut it, for ourselves been put in such a position either imo?