As Celtic begin to weigh up the future of Paulo Bernardo and look at making his move to Glasgow permanent, the debate over his valuation has intensified.
While reports suggested Celtic’s readiness to activate a £6.4 million buyout clause, conflicting information emerged, with CeltsAreHere revealing on Thursday that no decision had been made either way.
Pundit Tam McManus weighed in on the discussion, suggesting that Bernardo, despite his potential and flashes of quality, might not warrant such a high transfer fee based on his performance so far.
McManus proposed a more conservative valuation of around £2 million to £3 million for the Portuguese U21 international, citing inconsistency as a concern.
He said on PLZ Soccer: “On what I’ve seen so far? No, no. I would pay £2m, maybe two and a half or three at most. I wouldn’t pay £6.5m.”
Bernardo’s situation at Celtic is a complex one. On one hand, his potential and ability to adapt without a settling-in period are clear advantages. On the other hand, his inconsistency raises questions about the wisdom of investing a significant portion of the club’s transfer budget in him.
It is certainly one to keep an eye on in the summer, with it doubtful Celtic will rush into anything before then.
Think the midfield areas will get strengthen over the summer to where we currently are imo?
Think Oreily will possibly move on?
And Holm will possibly have a year’s loan move imo?
So potentially calmac, Hatate, iwata and Kelly, I would be confident will still be with ourselves?
So could we potentially be looking at possibly adding another 3 to get ourselves up to the 7, and even with potentially lawal who could bring us up to maybe 8 midfield options?
As for Paulo, it remains fairly hard still to make a call upon imo?
Think he may be suited more as a back up option for Oreily in the right attacking midfield areas, moreso than in the left side where he has operated for most of the season to date?
That becoming a more realistic option now with Hopefully calmac and Hatate returning from injuries?
Paulo didn’t let himself down in the CL games, and certainly worthy of a squad place imo?
Our transfer policy still at the stage where we want to loan before paying over the 5M mark?
Safer option after ajeti and barkas shambles, but are we still trying to play it so safe, and want to continue in the same manner?
Personally think that it’s about time we can start getting in players that can provide stability within the squad, than this 2 season approach and allowing players to move on with a big profit been made upon them?
In that case Paulo could provide that for ourselves, still believe we have better to come from him in a more suitable position for him imo?
So overall wouldn’t say Paulo would be the worst investment we have ever made, and still enough room in the squad to add possibly another 2 midfield players, of which 1 would surely be the younger option yet again imo?
That was meant to be wouldn’t be the worst investment