- The champions offer £3.5m for Benfica midfielder Bernardo
- Danish veteran in advanced negotiations for two-year deal
- Coach Brendan Rodgers wants to strengthen his squad for the new season
CELTIC have submitted a £3.5m offer to Benfica for midfielder Paulo Bernardo and are in advanced talks with Danish international goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel over a two-year deal.
Brendan Rodgers could make these two players his first signings of the summer before his side fly to the United States to play Manchester City, Chelsea and DC United.
Portuguese Bernardo, 22, spent last season on loan at Parkhead, scoring four goals in 33 appearances.
The loan deal included an option to buy for £6m. The Scottish champions, keen to negotiate a lower fee, have opened formal negotiations with Benfica over a £3.5m deal plus add-ons and a sell-on percentage, and hope to finalise personal terms.
Celtic are close to signing Danish goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel
Celtic have made a £3.5m bid for on-loan midfielder Paulo Bernardo
Celtic are also looking for a replacement for Joe Hart and talks are underway with 37-year-old Schmeichel.
A free agent after leaving Anderlecht, the son of Manchester United legend Peter was Rodgers’ number one at Leicester City. He also spent time in Scotland with Falkirk early in his career. He was keen to focus on Euro 2024 with the Danes, with negotiations frozen until the end of the tournament.
Meanwhile, a £4.5m bid for Norwich City striker Adam Idah, who also spent part of last season on loan at Celtic, has already been rejected.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is keen to add quality players to his squad
Celtic are keen to sign Adam Idah from Norwich after his successful loan spell last season
With Celtic on the verge of raising a similar sum for the sale of South Korean striker Oh Hyeon-gyu to Belgian club Genk, further talks have taken place despite Championship side Norwich maintaining they have yet to receive an offer for Ireland international Idah which is likely to trigger serious talks.
Manager Rodgers addressed supporters’ frustration over a lack of summer signings after a pre-season game with Queen’s Park in midweek.
“It’s natural to ask about new signings,” said the Northern Irishman. “We are a club that needs to improve its squad, so I hope we can do that.”