It has to be a slow start to the summer at Parkhead when it comes to transfers, but reinforcements should come in over the next few weeks or even days. In goal, Kasper Schmeichel is on the verge of moving to the Hoops, replacing the similarly experienced Joe Hart following his retirement at the end of the 2023/24 campaign.
Meanwhile, Royal Antwerp forward Michel-Ange Balikwisha has emerged as another target, with talks taking place with the 23-year-old’s agent over a move. He scored seven goals and registered five assists in the Jupiler Pro League, showing the type of end product he could bring to Brendan Rodgers’ squad.
Viljami Sinisalo, the goalkeeper at Aston Villa, is reportedly another candidate to replace Schmeichel in the interim since he might be looking for a chance to play more often outside of Villa Park.
Additionally, negotiations are on for a permanent transfer for Adam Idah, a striker for Norwich City who scored eight goals in 15 Scottish Premiership games in 2023–2024 while on loan at Celtic, just five of which were starts. Recently, a similar rumor regarding the signing of a different athlete has surfaced.
Taking to X, Joseph claimed that Celtic have agreed a £3.5m deal with Benfica to sign Paulo Bernardo on a permanent deal, with personal terms hopefully sorted in the near future.
Another report has suggested that Aston Villa goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo is another option to come in as Schmeichel’s deputy, as he potentially looks for a chance to enjoy more regular football away from Villa Park.
Talks are also ongoing regarding a permanent move for striker Adam Idah, with the Norwich City man scoring eight goals in 15 appearances in the Scottish Premiership in 2023/24 on loan at Celtic, of which only five were starts. Now, another similar rumour has emerged over the signing of another player.
This is brilliant news for Celtic, considering what a popular figure Bernardo proved to be during his temporary stint at Parkhead last season. He made 22 appearances in the league, scoring and assisting three times apiece, and he also averaged 1.3 tackles per game in the competition. Meanwhile, Rodgers has shown his admiration for him in the past, saying:
“For Paulo it was good. He’s such a mature player for a young player. He’s always had a great attitude at training. He’s played in a lot of big games. But he had a wee bit of everything today – he had a wee bit of dig, put his foot in, passed the ball and made runs into the box.”
Given how well-liked Bernardo was during his brief stay at Parkhead last season, this is excellent news for Celtic. In 22 games during his stint in the league, he averaged 1.3 tackles per game while also contributing three goals and three assists. In the meantime, Rodgers has already expressed his admiration for him by saying:
For Paulo, it went well. For a young athlete, he plays with such maturity. He’s always approached training with a positive outlook. He’s participated in numerous major games. However, he did a little bit of everything today: he ran into the box, passed the ball, dug a little bit, and placed his foot in.”
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