For the first time in a long while, Liverpool are on the verge of qualifying for the Champions League for consecutive years but Jurgen Klopp will be aware of the frailties in his squad at the moment and will be desperate to add some quality to his side in the summer transfer window.
This has seen Liverpool linked with some of the finest stars in Europe and the latest name doing the rounds is that of Brazilian midfielder Bernard.
Liverpool Interested In Bernard:
A transfer target for both Arsenal and Inter Milan, Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Bernard is expected to be a top transfer target for many clubs in Europe this summer. Italian giants Inter Milan have been scouting for his services from even before the start of the season but reports from Italy now claim that they have withdrawn interest in the player, due to financial reasons.
This puts Arsenal and Liverpool in a decent position to snap him up at the end of the season but is he the right man for Liverpool?
Bernard – A Mini-Scout Report:
Born and brought up in Belo Horizonte in Brazil, the 25-year old graduated from the academy at Atletico Mineiro, where he spent three long seasons before moving to Europe for the first time with Donetsk, in 2013. He took his time to establish himself in the first team for the Moles and has now made 95 domestic league appearances for the side till date.
A gifted winger, who can play on either flank or through the middle, Bernard is one of the quickest players in Serie A at the moment and there are very few defenders in Europe who can keep up with him in a foot race. He is an excellent dribbler and hard to catch and his ability to produce dangerous crosses makes him all the more effective.
He is excellent with the ball at his feet and rarely misuses it and it is evident from his return of 10 goals and four assists in 29 appearances this season and has shown that he is ready for the biggest stage.
Right Man For Liverpool?
The Reds might want to add creative midfielders to their side, having lost Philippe Coutinho in January. They are also set to lose Emre Can in the midfield and will be light in terms of personnel.
Bernard is slightly more effective on the wing and can act as a backup to the likes of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah. He may not be the solution to their midfield problems but he certainly adds depth, that Liverpool lack at the moment. At 25, he will only get better and is a decent fit for Klopp’s system, but is he the right man for the Reds?
Stats Courtesy: Whoscored
