Reports are emerging that West Ham United might not be lucky enough to land Bernard on a free transfer this summer. Despite gaining the attention of Manuel Pellegrini previously, the Brazilian midfielder has chosen to explore his options as a free agent.
A move to Premier League sure has its pros but it might not be able to match the offers of Chinese clubs. As we have seen previously with Hulk, Oscar and Carlos Tevez, the sides from the Far East are more capable of providing a lucrative deal which ends up attracting such big names in the first place.
Bernard has run out of a contract with Ukrainian side, Shakhtar Donetsk and was being targeted by Lazio as well. The latter, who is also in talks with West Ham United over Felipe Anderson, was considering the 25-year-old as a replacement.
Bernard could have been an influential figure in the Hammers ranks with Manuel Lanzini out injured for a significant period. Pellegrini needs attackers who have the creative abilities to link up on the offensive side of the pitch.
Standing at 5 feet 5 inches tall, Bernard uses his ridiculous bouts of pace and skill to get away from opposition defenders. He is also versatile enough to appear from both central and flank positions.
Losing out on his signature could be a huge blow but there is no stopping Pellegrini in looking for alternatives. Here are a few candidates he should consider ahead of the 2018/19 campaign.
Jack Grealish
Aston Villa are facing a serious challenge at keeping their best players at the club due to their strained financial position. Failing to achieve Premier League status has left them in a difficult spot which can only be answered by some of their best players.
Grealish is a highly valued asset who has developed into a real star in the Championship. Despite undergoing a tough spell on the sidelines, the 22-year-old set up 8 assists and scored 3 goals in 38 appearances for the Villans the last term and can be a good addition to the Hammers squad in the next season.
Adam Lallana
No matter how much he might be loved by Liverpool fans, the 30-year-old is just not cut out of the same cloth as some of the club’s best players. Mostly due to injuries, his switch to Anfield has not gone according to plan which needs to change at this point of his career.
West Ham could seriously make use of his creative abilities whereas Klopp might get much out of him as a sporadic option.
Read More: West Ham United Eyeing A Summer Move For 26 Y/O Serie A Defender: Right Choice For The Hammers?
Sofiane Boufal
The Southampton man has struggled to find consistent bouts of action under both Mauricio Pellegrino and Mark Hughes. With Nathan Redmond and Dusan Tadic ahead of him in the pecking order, the Moroccan attacker can be pulled into a transfer talk with the Hammers.
