Celtic are hoping to seal a permanent deal for Paulo Bernardo before Thursday with the midfielder in Glasgow for medical tests as a deal worth less than £4 million edges closer.
- Exclusive from Graeme Bailey
One of the key players during Celtic’s latest Scottish Premiership title-winning campaign in 2023/24, speculation regarding a return to Parkhead for Paulo Bernardo has rumbled on throughout the first two months of the summer window.
Now, just four days before they kick off their latest title defence with a home clash against Kilmarnock, The Hoops appear to have made a breakthrough in discussions with Benfica.
HITC understands that Bernardo is already in Glasgow. He has already completed the first part of his medical too. A permanent deal is expected to cost less than the £4 million fee put forward via some sections of the media.
Celtic are also hoping to announce Bernardo’s full-time return in the coming hours, before the close of play on Wednesday.
Celtic close in on Paulo Bernardo deal with Benfica
While not quite one of the first names on Brendan Rodgers‘ team sheet last term, the versatile midfielder did prove to be a very useful member of the Hoops squad.
He featured 33 times across all competitions. A fierce striker of the ball, Bernardo also scored four times with his highlight moment coming in the Old Firm derby in late-December.
The Portugal Under 21 international thrashed home a thumping strike to help see of Rangers’ 2-1, setting Celtic on their way to yet another league triumph.
“He’s such a mature player for a young player,” Rodgers said of Bernardo. “He’s always had a great attitude at training. He’s played in a lot of big games.
“He (has) a wee bit of everything. (He can) put his foot in. He passed the ball and made runs into the box.”
HITC reported earlier in the summer that Benfica wanted around £5 million.
Celtic appear set to seal a deal for over £1 million less, however, for the Jorge Mendes-represented midfielder.
In contrast, The Hoops appear no closer to bringing another of last season’s loan stars – Adam Idah – back to familiar surroundings. Celtic are yet to return with a new bid for the Norwich City-owned striker having seen an opening bid of £4 million fall well short of The Canaries’ demands.
Norwich want closer to £8 million for a forward who scored nine times in 19 games under Rodgers, including a trademark last-gasp winner against Old Firm rivals Rangers in the Scottish Cup Final.
Adam Idah deal still in limbo
Idah, Sky Sports report, will be disciplined by the Championship outfit after failing to turn up for a flight ahead of Norwich’s pre-season trip to Austria, much to the frustration of head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup.
He reported late for the flight on Sunday morning for reasons that should never happen. So I spoke to him the other night,” Throup tells the Pink ‘Un.
“He was sad about the situation and apologised and so on. We will get him back into the group. But it’s also an important message for us to say that there will be consequences when you don’t do your stuff.
“We will handle that internally.”
Thorup indicates that Idah may have been distracted by all the speculation hanging over his head, with Celtic still keen to get a deal done.
HITC understands that, if Norwich refuse to budge, The Hoops may look elsewhere. Enquiries have been lodged with Hearts captain and 2024 Golden Boot winner Lawrence Shankland.
“This is maybe the first time in his career where there is so much attention on him and so many media stories and so on,” Thorup adds. “I can completely understand that can be difficult for a football player to handle.
“So it will take some more conversations with him. And we will of course integrate him again and everyone will be there to support him.
“But it’s also important for us to make it very, very clear that we have our rules internally. If you step out of that and do something that is not aligned with that then of course you cannot play with the rest of the group.
“But he is a good boy and I don’t think it was on purpose. It was just too much going on.”
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