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Shakhtar have bid accepted for Arsenal target Bernard
BRAZIL winger Bernard looks increasingly far from becoming an Arsenal player - after Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk joined Porto in the race for his services.
Bernard is available for transfer this summer, with Atletico Mineiro director of football Eduardo Maluf saying: "If there is a £22m offer, we will sell."
And while Arsene Wenger was tipped to wrap up a deal for the 20-year-old this summer, Arsenal now look set to miss out on the starlet's signature.
According to reports in Italy, Shakhtar could be set to trump both the Gunners and Porto to sign Bernard with Atletico Mineiro president Alexandre Kalil confirming that the Ukrainian club have met their asking price for the player.
Kalil said: "Things are very advanced. The team is Shakhtar. They offered the value we want. If Bernard wants, he will go.
"If he does not want to go to Ukraine, that's no problem. It's in his hands. I have talked with him. It's a private matter. If he does not want to go, we will not force him."
Donetsk is currently home to 10 Brazilian players, and manager Mircea Lucescu is keen to add more quality to his squad having sold Fernandinho to Manchester City and Henrikh Mkhitaryan to Borussia Dortmund.
Arsenal looked like missing out on Bernard to Porto, after international team-mate Hulk reportedly sold a move to Portugal to his compatriot.
And for what it's worth, Bernard doesn't sound immediately sold on joining Shaktar.
He told Lancenet: "I don't know if it will be best for me, I'm talking with my family.
"Nothing is certain yet. I had a meeting with the president and he told me what Shakhtar offered him and myself.
"It is between Porto and Shakhtar."
Left up to the player's agent, Adriano Spadotto, however, Bernard would be Portugal bound.
"I can confirm that is the strongest possibility, but Shakhtar are interested too," said Spadotto. "He should join one of the two clubs.
"If it is up to me, Bernard will be a Porto player. As I have said, this would be the best solution for him. He would prefer to join a middling, but good, club in Europe rather than risk joining an elite club and not getting the chance to play.
"Bernard has great interest in going to Porto."
Whatever happens it seems that the player himself is already tiring of the constant speculation.
He said: "I want to resolve it quickly, if go or stay, because this story is already boring.
And he also hinted that any move may not go through immediately in any case.
Bernard added: "I want to stay [to compete in the Club World Cup], I made it clear I did not want to go before the end of the year.
"If I have the opportunity to sign and go after the Club World Cup that would be very important. I want to have the chance to win it for Atletico."