Celtic are known to be keen on landing Paulo Bernardo on a permanent deal following his initial loan success at Parkhead.
Overall, the 22-year-old registered four goals and three assists in 33 appearances for the Bhoys, playing an important part in their domestic double triumph [Transfermarkt].
Yesterday, we told that talks were progressing well over a transfer and Celtic are now confident they will be able to seal a deal for Bernardo, with add-ons and a sell-on fee included to help push an agreement over the line. To provide context, there is an option to buy in his current terms worth somewhere in the region of £6 million, subject to variation.
However, Portuguese outlet O Jogo claim the Hoops are trying to re-negotiate the price, and his parent club, Benfica, won’t accept anything less than €6 million (£5.1 million) to see his stay in Glasgow cemented.
Crucially, Bernardo wants to return to Celtic and has made it his preferred destination. Benfica are also happy to let him leave the capital, so there is a willingness from all parties, which will now become the central point of the piece.
Why Paulo Bernardo to Celtic on a permanent makes sense
Starting off, Bernardo wouldn’t need any sort of settling-in period at Celtic. The Almada-born man already knows the inner workings of Parkhead life, and has an understanding with his teammates on and off the field that can continue to blossom moving forward.
Undoubtedly, this will come in handy across the Scottish Premiership campaign. In addition, he played a part in every single one of the Bhoys’ Champions League group stage matches in 2023/24, which is another quantifiable advantage to snapping him up permanently.
From a Benfica standpoint, offloading Bernardo would come under the bracket of a pure profit sale. Ultimately, they would inherit any fee for him in its totality, affording them the freedom to re-invest the money wherever they wish while boosting their adherence to UEFA Financial Fair Play Regulations (FFP).
Prospective add-ons and sell-on clauses are a clever way to ensure they inherit capital further down the line, as long as that can be agreed on between chiefs.
Featuring regularly for Portugal at Under-21 level, Bernardo also possesses great pedigree that could come in handy if there is movement in the engine room this summer amid speculation surrounding Matt O’Riley’s future.
Versatility is a major draw for successful clubs, and Bernardo is capable of featuring as an eight or further up in the ten if required, boding well regarding his ability to contribute at both ends of the field.
Paulo Bernardo’s impressive versatility
Bernardo is capable of putting in a shift from an attacking perspective, as he has created four big chances and had an average of 1.4 shots per league match on target this term alongside retaining a pass accuracy rate of 83% [Sofascore].
Defensively, he made around 1.3 successful challenges and two ball recoveries per fixture, illustrating his willingness to get stuck in during trying moments.
When he arrived at Celtic, many thought he would be another creative foil for Brendan Rodgers’ forward players, but he has shown a level of industry that suits the Scottish Premiership.
At times, Bernardo’s consistency has waned amid competition for his place in midfield; nevertheless, given his age and relative inexperience before coming to Parkhead, he has shown more than enough to warrant a place in the long-term plans at the club.
Should a permanent transfer be completed for his services, there is anticipation among the support that there is plenty more to come from the man in question.