Celtic have reached a full agreement with Benfica to make Paulo Bernardo's loan move permanent, according to reports. The Portuguese impressed on loan in Glasgow last season and is set to continue working under Brendan Rodgers in 2024/25.
Talks have taken place over the past few weeks over a deal for Bernardo, who scored four goals in 33 appearances for the Hoops across all competitions.
The original loan agreement included an option to buy him permanently for just over £5million, but Celtic transfer chiefs have been hard at work trying to negotiate a lower fee.
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According to Portuguese outlet Mais Futebol, the two sides have now agreed on a £2.5m package which includes a future sell-on fee for Benfica. Bernardo is set to sign a five-year contract at Celtic once the finer details of his transfer are completed.
The 22-year-old's arrival will come as a major boost for Rodgers, who has already welcomed goalkeepers Kasper Schmeichel and Viljami Sinisalo to Celtic Park this summer. And there is likely to be more business conducted, with two transfers reportedly in the works.
Like Bernardo, Adam Idah impressed on loan with the Hoops last term, scoring eight goals in 15 Scottish Premiership games.
But Norwich City are believed to be demanding an eye-watering £8m fee to make the switch permanent. American international midfielder Tanner Tessman is also a target for Celtic.
The youngster has been a regular for Serie B side Venezia over the past three seasons. Celtic's potential moves for Idah and Tessman may ultimately hinge on whether they part ways with star midfielder Matt O'Riley.
The London-born Denmark international was a force to be reckoned with in 2023/24, drawing serious interest from the likes of Atalanta and Southampton. With a £26m price tag, selling O'Riley could pave the way for Rodgers to complete his summer transfer business in double-quick time.
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The manager recently hinted that O'Riley would be allowed to leave for the right price, explaining: "I think we all understand, the people close to Celtic understand the model Celtic works to. Celtic is a club where you can move on but you don't have to and it's a very difficult club to move on from.
"Naturally with the wages that are on offer for players, then that makes it a real challenge for Celtic to compete at that level. But what I've seen with Matt is he's a first-class professional. Every player has a value but we see him as a really important player for us and whilst he is here, we'll continue to develop him and help him improve."
