Who is Paulo Bernardo? Celtic transfer target profiled as Hoops hope it's second time lucky with Benfica ball player

It could be a case of second time lucky for Celtic in regard to Paulo Bernardo.

The Benfica midfielder is reportedly in talks over a loan switch as Brendan Rodgers looks to up his squad's quality levels before the transfer window closes on Friday. The 21-year-old is unlikely to feature under Roger Schmidt at the Estadio Da Luz and could well be tempted by the prospect of regular first team football and a crack at the Champions League group stage.

With Reo Hatate not hitting the heights he did under Ange Postecoglou since Rodgers came back to the club and the Japanese putting new contract talks on hold, there's been plenty of talk that the midfielder may look to move on. With that bubbling under the surface, the chance to sign a new engine room partner for Callum McGregor will likely be welcomed by Rodgers, while Celtic are also braced for further interest in Matt O'Riley after booting out a bid from Bologna.

But what would Celtic be getting in Bernardo? Record Sport takes a closer look at Benfica academy graduate.

This Lisbon native has been with Benfica since he was 7. Progressing through the youth system before earning a pro contract in February 2018, Bernardo made his debut as a substitute in November 2021, coming off the bench during a 5-2 Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich.

A regular for the B team, he's found establishing himself as a first team starter tough, with only 17 appearances. A loan to Pacos de Fereira during the second half of last season saw him get more experience under his belt, but a fresh start in Scotland with Celtic could be just what he needs to kick on and showcase his top team credentials. With a contract running until 2027, Benfica clearly see something in him, they just need to see more