Al Nasr have refused to drop their interest in Everton winger Bernard and have promised to reignite their interest in the Brazil international in the summer, as reported by Goal.
Heading into the final few days of the January window, it was a case of one or the other at Goodison Park.
According to the Liverpool Echo, seldom seen youngster Anthony Gordon would only depart on loan if a deal to take Bernard from Merseyside to the United Arab Emirates collapsed.
But while Gordon was putting pen to paper on a short-term deal with Preston North End on deadline day, his £120,000-a-week teammate was facing up to more months stuck on the bench.
According to Goal, Bernard gave a mid-season switch to Al Nasr the green light.
But the Gulf League outfit failed to agree with Everton how the deal would be financed and, once the clock struck 11, the former Shakhtar Donetsk talisman was unloading his luggage and putting his suitcase back in the wardrobe.
That doesn’t mean the chance to make a money-spinning move to the UAE has passed him by, of course.
Al Nasr have already told Bernard they will return for him in the summer.
The four-time Presidents Cup winners are determined to make the silky Brazilian their marquee signing and have even promised him the number seven shirt.
Fussball Transfers believes Al Nasr wanted to take Bernard on loan with an option to buy for £4 million.
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