Arsenal
Arsenal + Liverpool In Contact Over £19m Brazilian Attacker
Agents representing attacker Bernard have made contact with Arsenal and Liverpool over a possible £19m move with the player keen to leave Shakhtar Donetsk.
As we approach the opening of the summer window clubs will be intensifying their efforts in the transfer market so we’ll bring you all the latest news and gossip. Today, Arsenal and Liverpool are linked with Bernard.
Image: Mirror
Agents representing Brazilian attacker Bernard have made contact with Arsenal and Liverpool over a possible £19m move with the player keen to leave Shakhtar Donetsk due to the civil unrest in Ukraine, according to reports.
Bernard was strongly linked with a move to the Premier League last summer with Arsenal and Liverpool among those understood to be interested before he eventually sealed a £21.5m switch to Shakhtar in August 2013.
However, his time in Ukraine hasn’t gone as smoothly as he would have hoped, with the 21-year-old managing just 3 goals in his 29 appearances leading to criticism he hasn’t lived up to his big price-tag.
The Brazilian international has also struggled to adapt to life in Ukraine and the Mirror claims that the recent unrest in the region is forcing the player to seek a move away this summer, and agents acting on behalf of the youngster have supposedly offered the player to Arsenal and Liverpool.
There have also been reports of a move back to Brazil with Sao Paulo talked about as a potential destination, but it’s highly unlikely they would be able to finance such a deal, so the newspaper suggests the wingers representatives are now in talks with the Premier League duo over a potential move to England.
It remains to be seen whether Arsene Wenger or Brendan Rodgers will be make any formal move, but it’s understood Shakhtar will want to recoup as much money as possible and it would take a bid of £19m to persuade them to sell.
The Gunners are expected to be in the market for attacking reinforcements this summer and although Bernard is a huge talent, I’m not convinced a diminutive attacker is exactly what the North Londoners need right now. Arsene may have other ideas, but I’d be surprised if the Frenchman opted to spend almost £20m on the player when a striker, defensive midfielder and a right-back are his top priorities this summer.
Liverpool are also likely to be active this summer as Rodgers tries to build a squad capable of dealing with the added rigor that Champions League football will bring next season, and Bernard might be more suited to a move to Anfield as the Reds could do with more depth in their attacking positions.
READ MORE –> Arsenal transfer news | Liverpool transfer news
Bernard has been named in Luiz Felipe Scolari’s squad for this summers World Cup and a positive showing in his homeland is only going to increase interest in the player and see his price rise, so if Liverpool, or indeed Arsenal, do want to sign him then they may want to try and get a deal done quickly.
