Gunners expected to make offer for Tottenham target in next 11 days.
Arsenal are favourites to sign Brazil international Bernard, who is also a target of the Gunners’ fierce rivals Tottenham.
According to local source OTempo.br, Arsenal are expected to submit a proposal to the 20-year-old’s club Atletico Mineiro in the next 11 days after receiving a study of his technical performance and another detailing his off-field behaviour.
Atletico, who have both Ronaldinho and former Gunner Gilberto on their books, will reportedly accept an offer of €25m (£21.5m) for the playmaker.
Bernard was part of the Selecao squad that won the Confederations Cup last month and the player is said to be interested in a move to a club like Arsenal, rather than opting to earn mega-bucks in Russia or Ukraine.
The inside forward is hoping to be an integral part of the Brazil squad at summer’s World Cup in his homeland.
Borussia Dortmund have also been linked with the player but the Germans’ interest may have cooled following the arrival of Henrikh Mkhitaryan from Shakhtar Donetsk.
Similarly, Spurs have already landed Bernard’s international teammate Paulinho for £17m this summer and seem unlikely to splash out again on a midfielder when a striker remains a priority.
Primera Liga champions Porto and Shakhtar are also said to be interested in Bernard, however.
