Liverpool are reportedly set to battle Arsenal in pursuit of Bernard, with Everton also vying for the Brazilian international’s signature
According to a report by Daily Mirror, Bernard could be set for a Premier League move in the summer transfer window. Liverpool, Arsenal and Everton are among the clubs in pursuit of the Brazilian international, who is a free agent after running out his contract with Shakhtar Donetsk.
Bernard enjoyed the best years of his career with Shakhtar Donetsk, sticking by the club during and after the hard times of the Ukrainian Revolution. During his five-year stint with the club, the Brazilian international gradually built up a solid reputation for himself while also blossoming into a dangerous winger.
While his overall figures do not make for impressive reading, with 28 goals and 35 assists in 157 outings across all competitions, the player remains a highly sought-after figure in the transfer market. With the Brazilian international a free agent now, the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal are scouring the possibility of signing him.
At Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp already has two world class wingers in Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah at his disposal. But, there was a need to add depth to his attacking options heading into the summer window, which has been somewhat addressed by the arrival of Xherdan Shaqiri.
While the Swiss international will be an option for the right side of attack, Bernard will be a viable target to bolster the left flank while also being an option in central positions. Arsenal, on the other hand, could offer him a role as a starter instead.
Unai Emery has no natural winger in his squad. The likes of Alex Iwobi, Danny Welbeck, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang were all deployed in wide areas by Arsene Wenger. But, each of the stars prefer playing in more central positions in different parts of the pitch. Bernard is thus, a viable target, who could add pace and dynamism to the Arsenal attack.
Both Liverpool and Arsenal seem to be in good stead in pursuit of Bernard, who is now open to a move to the Premier League after previously rejecting West Ham United for a reported switch to the Chinese Premier League. Meanwhile, Everton will also provide stiff competition to the duo as they look to bolster their attack this summer.
Bernard’s next destination though, will depend on his choice of being a regular or playing on a bigger stage. While he could potentially feature week in week out as a starter at Arsenal, the prospect of playing in the Champions League could push him towards Liverpool. An interesting transfer battle ensues.
