West Ham are growing increasingly confident of landing free agent Bernard, most recently of Shakhtar Donetsk, according to journalist Lee Clayton, as Manuel Pellegrini sets about further improving his creative options.
The diminutive midfielder has 14 caps for Brazil and can play either out wide or through the middle and his arrival would be yet another signal that Pellegrini wants to bring a different profile of player to the London Stadium.
One victim of that policy looks set to be Michael Antonio, linked with the exit door since June, amid interest from Crystal Palace, who may well be keen on some repeat business after securing the signing of Cheikhou Kouyate.
As Pellegrini looks to bring an intricate, passing style of football to east London and has purchased a raft of attacking players in order to carry it out, Antonio has been shunted down the pecking order.
Injuries blighted his 2017/18 season, and suddenly there is no space for a counter-punching, versatile willing runner in a squad looking to dominate games and pass through teams.
Pellegrini is looking to add sheen and class. That doesn’t make Antonio a bad player overnight, it just means that his skillset isn’t ideal for what the former Manchester City boss is trying to do.
At 28 and a late developer, he still has plenty to offer another club in the Premier League – Palace’s counter-attacking style would be a perfect fit – but Pellegrini is just taking West Ham in a different direction.
Bernard’s arrival would be another signal of that and would surely make Antonio realise his days are numbered.
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