EXCLUSIVE: Bernardo is returning to Celtic as champions finalise £3.5million deal with Benfica .. while talks begin with Wolves over left back Bueno

Celtic have finalised a £3.5million deal to sign Portuguese midfielder Paulo Bernardo.

And discussions are under way with Wolves over a season-long loan deal for left-back Hugo Bueno.

Bernardo, 22, will undergo a medical examination and put pen to paper on a five-year deal.

The Portuguese joined the Parkhead club from Benfica on a one-year loan last summer, complete with a £6million option to buy.

Scoring four goals in 33 appearances, Bernardo played a key role in securing a Premiership and Scottish Cup double.

Reluctant to pay the full £6m, Celtic renegotiated a fee of around £3.5m and a 30 per cent sell-on clause with Benfica last week.

After a week of haggling over personal terms, the midfielder is now poised to become the first outfield signing of the close season for manager Brendan Rodgers.

Meanwhlie, Spain Under-21 international Bueno was the target of an unsuccessful loan bid in January and is back on the radar.

Linked with Norwich City, the 21-year-old has made 49 appearances for Wolves - scoring one goal - since joining the club’s academy from Areosa in 2019.

He is currently on Wolves’ pre-season tour in the United States.

Celtic are also in North America, where they face Chelsea in their final pre-season game at Notre Dame Stadium in Indiana on Saturday.

The Scottish champions have already secured two goalkeepers in Kasper Schmeichel and Viljami Sinisalo.

Norwich striker Adam Idah, Burnley defender Dara O’Shea and Royal Antwerp winger Michel-Ange Balikwisha are also targets after Rodgers vowed to improve the squad.

Another midfielder is likely to come in if Celtic receive an acceptable bid for Matt O’Riley. Both Atalanta and Southampton have failed with recent approaches.