Andy Walker reckons that the £6m asking price for Paulo Bernardo does not represent good value for money and the former Celtic striker reckons that a better alternative for Brendan Rodgers would be to sign an alternative midfielder from another one of his old clubs.

Yesterday it emerged that Celtic would be prepared to sign Bernardo on a permanent contract IF his parent club Benfica would be prepared to re-negotiate the option to buy fee. Essentially Celtic have had a season long look at the player and reckon he’s maybe worth £3m but not £6m. How will Benfica react to this and will both clubs be willing to compromise to reach an agreement?

Celtic v Dundee – cinch Premiership – Paulo Bernardo during the cinch Premiership match at Celtic Park on Saturday September 16, 2023.Photo Andrew Milligan

Those will be questions for the end of the season, and while Andy Walker’s view is probably shared by the majority of Celtic supporters. They have watched the player over the course of the season and are unconvinced. It should also be noted that there’s real potential there with the Portugal u21 star and that’s exactly where Brendan Rodgers comes in, in terms of player development.

Speaking on Go Radio the former Celtic and Motherwell striker gave his thoughts on Celtic’s window shopping for midfielders, ahead of the transfer window opening. And on Celtic getting value for money by paying £6m for Paulo Bernardo, Walker is not convinced.

Greg Taylor with Lennon Miller. Motherwell v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Fir Park, 25 February 2024. Photo Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock

“It seems a bit steep if it is £6m and that is the type of fee you need to pay. I look around Scotland and, for example, Lennon Miller at Motherwell. I think he has great potential. Celtic have a history of going and getting players like Stephen Pearson from Motherwell in midfield, David Turnbull and my good friend Phil O’Donnell.

“Lennon Miller I think is someone who will go on to bigger and better things but £6m for Bernardo? It seems very steep. I think it is a lot of money for someone who has played a decent amount of games but not really impressed that much other than that little purple patch that he had.

“There have been a lot of ineffective games that he’s played too,” Walker noted.