Exclusive: Arsenal Agree £21m Deal to Sign Bernard, Brazilian to Join In January

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Emirates Stadium side set to welcome in Atletico Mineiro star.

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Arsenal have reportedly agreed terms on a £21m deal to sign highly rated Brazilian Bernard after representatives of the North London club held talks with Atletico Mineiro to sew up a deal.

CaughtOffside understands that the Gunners have met the Belo Horizonte based side’s valuation of 20 year old attacker Bernard and that as part of a deal the pint sized youngster will be loaned back to Atletico Mineiro until January, when he will then join the Arsenal squad.

Arsenal representatives were in attendance last night as Atletico Mineiro battled back from two goals down to beat Paraguayan side Club Olimpia in a penalty shoot-out to win a dramatic 2013 Copa Libertadores Final, which in turn sees Bernard’s side qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup in December. A delayed move to Arsenal hands the 20 year old a chance to play a part in those finals, taking place in Morocco before moving to the Premier League side in January.

Bernard is believed to have agreed personal terms with Arsenal earlier this month and though the deal would represent a club record transfer fee for the Emirates Stadium side it’s thought that a significant portion of the £21m outlay is dependent on appearances accumulated by the talented Brazilian international.

Bernard’s agent Adriano Spadato hinted at such a deal being close to completion via Twitter as he celebrated his client’s triumph last night, stating;

“Congratulations, Bernard. Double-winner! Confederations Cup, Libertadores… the perfect farewell”

The pint sized playmaker, who plays predominantly on the left side of the midfield, was part of Brazil’s Confederations Cup winning squad and considered one of the hottest prospects in South American football.

Wenger has targeted a number of high profile additions, seemingly moving in close to deals to sign the likes of Gonzalo Higuain and Marouane Fellaini however a move for young talent Bernard is perhaps more in keeping with the Gunners boss’s transfer policy.

The likes of Nicklas Bendtner, Marouane Chamakh and Gervinho are expected to follow the likes of Andrei Arshavin, Sebastien Squillaci, Denilson and Vito Mannone to the Arsenal exit.

Bernard has made 97 appearances for Belo Horizonte based side Atletico Mineiro, scoring 21 goals in the process.


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