Chelsea are reportedly set to join Arsenal and Liverpool in the chase for Shakhtar Donetsk’s Brazilian midfielder Bernard. The midfielder has become a subject of great interest after rejecting a new contract at Shakhtar. The contract rebel will be at the end of his contract next year.
It is being reported that the clubs were initially prepared to wait till next summer to snap him up on a free move but now with the competition heating up, will have to consider a move for him in January. As per reports, he is going to cost around £11.5 million, a meagre sum in today’s inflated transfer market. Bernard was tipped for a move back to his homeland with Palmeiras, favourites to land him but the rumours are suggesting that the player’s camp has expressed his desire to stay in Europe for the time being.
Bernard had previously been the subject of interest from Premier League clubs when Andres Villas-Boas tried to bring him to White Hart Lane while in charge of Tottenham Hotspur. The move never materialized and with Bernard losing his form, interest in him wavered. The player, however, is back to his best this season having already notched up three goals in the Champions League.
After Chelsea’s failure in the summer transfer window, the club is lacking a senior attacking player. The club would hope to appease Antonio Conte by bringing in Bernard. Conte’s switch to a 3-5-2 formation this season has left Chelsea short of players in their attacking positions.
Chelsea currently have Pedro, Hazard, Willian and young Charly Musonda as the wingers in the senior team. While Hazard is untouchable in the team, the same cannot be said for the rest of the three options. Musonda is very clearly a backup option used by Conte due to lack of summer signings.
The case for Pedro and Willian is that both players are highly inconsistent and have a habit of often failing in the moment of dire need. While Pedro still fights and puts in an effort to make something happen, Willian simply overcomplicates matters for himself every time he gets the ball. The Brazilian does not release the ball soon enough and cannot be counted as a first team starter by any margin. Pedro, despite his efforts, is far away from adding the quality Chelsea need at the top.
This might prompt Bernard to move to the West London club where he is likely to get a lot more game time as compared to Liverpool.
