In a recent interview with Goodison Park, former Premier League striker Kevin Campbell has tipped Everton winger Bernard to leave this summer. Campbell said,
“His [Bernard] time’s up.
“Everton were probably hoping he would be that type of player but it hasn’t quite worked.
“He scored a couple of goals, he’s a nice guy and a nice player but the level has moved now.”
Bernard’s Lack Of Game Time At Goodison Park This Season
Bernard has been a sporadic presence for the Toffees as he has struggled to earn regular playing minutes under the stewardship of Carlo Ancelotti. The Brazilian wing wizard has scored three goals in 18 matches for the Merseysiders this term on all fronts.
Most of his appearances have come off the bench which explains why he is only averaging 0.7 tackles, 0.7 interceptions, 0.8 key passes and 0.8 dribbles per 90 minutes in the Premier League this season. However, the 28-year-old has even been tidy when distributing possession in the opposition half based on his pass completion rate of 84.9% in top-flight football (stats via whoscored).
Bernard has just got over a year left to run in his Everton contract, so it makes sense for the Toffees head coach to cash in on him during this upcoming summer transfer window or else risk losing him on a free transfer at the end of next season.
Should Carlo Ancelotti Let Him Go This Summer?
Bernard’s career at Everton has come to a standstill as he is nowhere near good enough to earn regular minutes for Ancelotti’s first team. However, the Brazilian sensation has shown in the past that he can score some important goals for the Toffees when he is playing with confidence on the pitch.
The former Shakhtar Donetsk playmaker has decent pace in his locker and can pull off some encouraging dribbles in the opposition half. He can even create some promising chances for his teammates in the final third. Furthermore, Bernard is versatile enough to play anywhere across the frontline as he is primarily a left-winger but can also fill in on the right flank or play in the number ten position if required.
However, the lack of consistency has harmed his first-team chances at Goodison Park, so it’s high time for Ancelotti to let him go this summer so that both the player and the club can move on in search of greener pastures. At 28, Bernard is still at his prime and would flourish playing regular football away from Merseyside which is why he should be allowed to leave before the start of the new campaign.
