Celtic are closing in on permanently adding midfielder Paulo Bernardo to the ranks after positive negotiations with Benfica in the close season.
Bernardo joined the Bhoys on loan from the Portuguese side last summer and made 33 appearances in all competitions as a useful squad option in the middle of the park.
His biggest moment came against Rangers in December when he smashed the ball home in a 2-1 derby victory.
The player is said to be keen on a return to Scotland having settled well during the season and enjoyed working alongside his Celtic teammates.
He sees the Bhoys as a solid career step with little prospect of breaking into the Benfica first team.
Celtic are known to have been negotiating the loan-to-buy fee agreed in last season’s deal, hoping to talk down Benfica from a sum of around £6m. Now an update has emerged on how those discussions are going.
Celtic could soon land Bernardo
The Daily Record report that talks are progressing well and that the Scottish champions are now ‘confident’ an agreement will be struck for the talent.
Celtic are set to include add-ons and a sell-on fee to help sweeten the deal with Benfica after Bernardo made it clear that a return to Brendan Rodgers’ squad was his preferred option.
All going well, it seems that signing up the Portuguese U21 star will be one of the first bits of business completed this summer.
Celtic looking at other midfielders
Earlier on Monday it was reported that the Bhoys are looking at Lausanne midfielder Alvyn Sanches, who is being monitored by multiple UK clubs as a potential buy.
It’s no surprise that Celtic are proactively on the hunt for new talent in this area of the pitch with speculation about Matt O’Riley’s future continuing and clubs potentially interested in Reo Hatate, too.
With Brendan Rodgers indicating there will be ‘natural’ change within his squad this summer, it’s set to be an interesting and exciting transfer window for supporters.