Celtic are reportedly in the final stages of confirming a deal to sign Paulo Bernardo. The Scottish Champions have agreed a £3.5m deal with Benfica to sign the Portuguese midfielder but the parties have been engaged in discussions about personal terms.

According to Football Insider, Bernardo is set to sign and become Celtic’s third acquisition of the season. Celtic have only signed two players this window – goalkeepers Viljami Sinisalo and Kasper Schmeichel – but the club are yet to secure any outfield players. Adam Idah and Bernardo have been expected to sign following their successful loan spells but the negotiations have been somewhat prolonged.

Bernardo scored four times and assisted three times in thirty three appearances for Celtic last season and proved himself to be an important first team player. The manager initially utilised Bernardo in Champions League games before he grew into a more prominent first team player in all competitions. Bernardo provided some brilliant moments – namely his goal against Rangers at the turn of the year and then the assist in the Scottish Cup Final.

Benjamin Siegrist, Sead Haksabanovic and Rocco Vata have all left the club and it is expected that there will be further departures in the coming weeks. Brendan wants to streamline his squad and add quality. With Bernardo set to complete his move, Celtic have one more player in the door but the manager wants more and he wants them in as soon as possible.

Our board are nothing short of a disgrace and barnardo,idah and the keepers are still leaving us short if we even get the latter. I,along with thousands of other celtic fans have no idea what the clubs plans are because EVERYTHING is done in a shroud of secrecy. We have no vision for the future because we are too busy looking over the city to see what is happening over at the debt dome. Fyck even though they have no money or stadium they’re signing players. Absolutely disgusted by the board this window again. Hopefully fans will start to see who the real “rat” was. It certainly wasn’t br as he was doing his job with his hands tied behind his back