Brazil international Bernard will undergo an Everton medical as they look to finalise a landmark free transfer, according to Jim White.
The Sky Sports and talkSPORT broadcaster reported on his personal Twitter account that the Merseysiders have fought off strong competition to agree terms with the winger, who left Shakhtar Donetsk in June.
Brazilian winger Bernard to have @Everton medical in next 24 hours. Source says club has fought off strong competition and look set to land the @ShaktarDonetsk1 man on a free.
— Jim White (@JimWhite) August 6, 2018
Bernard could be one of a number of late window arrivals at Everton, who have been strongly linked, by the Guardian among others, with signing a centre-back after extensive talks with Barcelona over a near-£30million deal for centre-back Yerry Mina.
Good move for Everton?
Definitely. Bernard will be a massive upgrade on the likes of Kevin Mirallas and Yannick Bolaise, who are set to depart Goodison Park in the final days of the transfer window. With Richarlison already signed this summer for £44million and the likes of Theo Walcott and Ademola Lookman already in situ, Everton should present far more problems for opposing defences than they did last season, when the team never recovered from the sale of Romelu Lukaku to Manchester United. Bernard will cost £90million less than the Belgian forward but he has the ability and class to make a big impact. Capped 15 times by Brazil, he has been hugely impressive for Shakhtar in both domestic competition and the Champions League in the last five years.
This Is Futbol rating 9/10
Likely to happen?
This is virtually a done deal. With just the final formalities to be complete, including a medical today, it is only a matter of time before Bernard is unveiled as Everton’s third marquee summer signing after Richarlison and Lucas Digne.
This Is Futbol rating 9/10