Celtic is edging closer to securing a deal with Benfica for the return of Paulo Bernardo to the club this summer. The talented midfielder impressed manager Brendan Rodgers during his loan spell last season, playing a key role in Celtic’s surge towards the Scottish Premiership title and contributing to their victory in the Scottish Cup final. Despite an option to buy set at around £6 million in his loan agreement, reports from Record Sport indicate that Benfica has agreed to stick to that figure for the 22-year-old.
While initial reports from Portugal suggested that a deal has been agreed upon, with negotiations ongoing for a sell-on clause, it seems that the agreement has not yet been officially confirmed at this stage. The Daily Mail has reported that Bernardo is eager to finalize the move swiftly, with plans to return to Glasgow in time to join Celtic for their pre-season preparations in the United States next week.
In addition to Bernardo, Rodgers is also keen on bringing Adam Idah back to Celtic from Norwich City. The Irish striker, who scored a memorable goal against Rangers in the Scottish Cup, has expressed his desire to return to the club. However, Norwich’s new manager, Johannes Hoff Thorup, has signaled that he will evaluate Idah during pre-season before making a decision on his future.
Despite Rodgers expressing his interest in re-signing Idah, Norwich’s stance on the matter appears to be more cautious. In a recent fans’ forum, Hoff Thorup emphasized the need to give all players a fair chance to impress, including Idah. While the striker’s future remains uncertain, both Celtic and Norwich are taking their time to assess the situation before making any final decisions.
