Celtic are pushing to finalise the permanent signing of Paulo Bernardo before their upcoming USA pre-season tour, according to the Daily Mail via Football Scotland.
After spending last season on loan at Celtic Park, where he made a significant impact in both domestic and Champions League matches, Bernardo has reportedly been told he does not feature in Benfica’s future plans and is therefore pushing for a Celtic move.
A transfer fee of £4.2 million has been agreed upon between Celtic and Benfica, with discussions now focusing on the terms of a sell-on clause. Bernardo’s performances last season, which included crucial roles in key matches and a memorable goal in the derby, have made securing his transfer a priority for Celtic and Brendan Rodgers.
The midfielder’s desire to return to Celtic and the progress in negotiations suggest that both parties are optimistic about finalising the deal in time for Bernardo to join Brendan Rodgers’ squad as they head to the United States.
The first match for the tour is against DC United on July 21.
