Liverpool Reportedly Checking In On Bernard. What Could He Provide?

Many in the fanbase have been hoping for some kind of concrete link to Bernard this summer, and according to Tony Barrett's sources, Liverpool have been monitoring the impressive young winger lately. Hopefully that monitoring included his Copa Libertadores semi-finals performance against Newell's Old Boys, as he scored a nice goal and was crucial to Atletico Mineiro's attacking play, as he often is of late.

While the link is currently a tenuous one, it is certainly cause for interest. Bernard is a wonderful young player; lightning-quick, excellent ball control, a strong right foot, witha touch of that moxie that I've talked about in the past. He's arguably been Mineiro's most critical player in their Copa Libertadores run to the finals, helping them overturn a 2-0 first leg deficit against Newell's and eventually winning the tie on the penalties (with the decisive penalty from old friend Maxi Rodriguez saved to send Mineiro through). He's even earned five caps with the Brazilian senior squad, including two substitute appearances in the Confederations Cup.

It's not hard to see how Bernard could fit in to the squad. He'd immediately step in to the rotation in the attacking band, working mostly from the left wing (which would move Coutinho in to the central role that many wish to see him in). He'd offer pace out wide, as well as another attacking outlet when trying to break down a concentrated defense. There are some concerns as to his defensive abilities, but he shows the work rate going forward to suggest that it could be a solvable problem.

The larger concern is how likely it is for Liverpool to get him. Mineiro's asking price (rumored to be in the vicinity of £20 million), is a little steep, and there are reports of third-party ownership, which as we know from the Mkhitaryan debacle makes things much more difficult to resolve for English clubs. There are also rumors of interest from both Porto and Shakhtar Donetsk, two clubs with a reputation of taking players like Bernard and molding them in to stars. That's a lot for Liverpool to overcome, but it could be worth the effort for a talent like this.

In the meantime, enjoy a video of Bernard's highlights, set to something other than dubsteb (for once):

More from The Liverpool Offside:

• Liverpool Reportedly Ready to Bid for Alvaro Morata
• Stewart Downing is "Here to Stay" at Liverpool
• Liverpool Tour All About the Team Building
• Luis Suarez is Liverpool's Best Actor, and it's Not Even Close
• Thinking On Potential Fullback Targets for Liverpool