The Gunners are considering a move for Shakhtar’s Bernard.
After tying up the reported £31.8m signing of Alexis Sanchez from FC Barcelona, Arsenal are looking to partner the forward with another South American in the shape of Shakhtar Donetsk’s Bernard, according to Goal.
The Brazil international is thought to be available for around £20m and Gunners manager Arsene Wenger views the youngster as the ideal companion for Sanchez in attack.
Despite only joining Shakhtar 12 months ago the 21-year-old has failed to settle in Ukraine and is understood to be keen on a move away from the club.
Wenger has sent several scouting trips to view the attacking midfielder in action and the reports brought back to the Frenchman have been generally positive.
The 64-year-old is keen to add a different dimension to his attack with the pace and mobility of Bernard and Sanchez, with the North Londoners looking somewhat one dimensional at times last season.
Wenger has admitted that his side relied too much on Olivier Giroud and the 27-year-old’s role as a traditional No.9, a style that is completely different to that of the two South American targets.
The boss is currently in Brazil as a pundit for French TV, but has been negotiating deals from the 2014 World Cup and has also being using the tournament as a platform to view players.
Bernard would have hardly showered himself in glory during the playmaker’s last outing however, with the starlet being part of the team that was beaten 7-1 by Germany in the semi-finals on Tuesday.
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