Arsenal could be closing in on a desperately needed transfer breakthrough after sending scouts to watch Brazil winger Bernard pick up a Copa Libertadores winner's medal on Wednesday night.
Manager Arsene Wenger demanded a form guide on the £20million-plus rated attacker and may now follow up his interest with a bid after hearing how he helped Atletico Mineiro overturn a 2-0 first-leg deficit against Paraguay's Olimpia to lift South America's version of the Champions' League.
Liverpool and Tottenham were also locked in a scramble to sign Bernard, along with Porto, Borussia Dortmund and Shakhtar Donetsk, but they may now have been deterred by Mineiro's valuation.
Bernard's agent Adriano Spadoto appeared to confirm as much, with a Facebook message that read: 'Negotiations with Tottenham and Dortmund have cooled, due to the high asking price.'
But an imminent breakthrough for Arsenal appeared to be on the cards, as Spadoto then wrote on Twitter: 'Congratulations Bernard. Double winner! Confederations Cup, Libertadores .. the perfect farewell.'
Sportsmail revealed last Friday that a rush to sign Bernard was about to be sparked, following confirmation he was ready to quit Mineiro after the Copa Libertadores final second leg.
Liverpool and Tottenham both made enquiries, while Porto had a £15.5million bid rejected by Mineiro president Alexandre Kalil, who set the asking price at just over £20million but may accept around £18million.
Source: Daily Mail
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