Bernard is reportedly in talks over a move to West Ham.
West Ham United are reportedly in talks to sign Shakhtar Donetsk playmaker Bernard on a free transfer this summer, after bitter London rivals Tottenham Hotspur were linked in 2013 – and Spurs cannot let the Hammers complete a move.
Italian journalist Alfredo Pedulla has claimed on his website that West Ham have begun negotiations to land the 15-time Brazil international, who is available on a free after his contract with the Ukranian giants expired.
Along with rivals Arsenal, Spurs were linked with the 25-year-old back in the summer of 2013, but failed to land the playmaker as Bernard confirmed to magazine FourFourTwo that neither club wanted to pay £21.5million to sign him.
Now available on a free, Bernard could be closing in on a move to the Premier League and it seems as though Manuel Pellegrini is looking to sign the pocket-sized magician – after failing to do so at Hebei China Fortune.
Spurs have been linked with a whole host of attacking stars of late, including Croatia’s World Cup star Ante Rebic, Bordeaux wide man Malcom and even a sensational return for Gareth Bale.
That is because Mauricio Pochettino is yet to decide who is first choice on the wing at Spurs, with Dele Alli, Christian Eriksen and Harry Kane all first choice in his 4-2-3-1 system. Alli and Eriksen need a partner in the three.
Son Heung-min, Moussa Sissoko, Erik Lamela and Lucas Moura have all been used, but have failed to show why they deserve to be first choice with Pochettino chopping and changing.
But signing Bernard, five years after being first linked with the former Atletico Mineiro star, would finally give Pochettino the player he has been looking for. Spurs, simply, cannot let West Ham sign the Brazilian superstar.
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