While not getting plenty of opportunities for the national team, Bernard impressed in the few minutes he had for Brazil in the Confederations Cup, and obviously for the last couple of seasons with Atlético Mineiro, which has gotten him plenty of attention from various clubs in Europe, including Liverpool.

According to reports in Brazil, the 20-year old forward is now a target for Liverpool as well, after already being linked with moves to Shakhtar Donetsk, Borussia Dortmund, AS Roma and FC Porto. However, Dortmund, after making their Mkhitaryan signing are probably out of the race, while Porto have made their big signing of the summer (probably) in Quintero.

Bernard Anício Caldeira Duarte has been with Minerio since 2006, joining the team’s youth system as a 14 year old. He began his tenure for the club in 2011, but only in the following year became a valuable first team member, scoring 15 goals in 47 matches (all competitions), helping the team finish in second place in the national championship.

This season he has been doing very well for the club in the Copa Libertadores, helping them reach the final for the first time. He has scored 4 goals in 10 matches, and it’s interesting to see if he’ll be there long enough to make his mark on the final.

Their attention to Bernard might be another sign that Liverpool don’t feel they have a chance of keeping Luis Suarez. He isn’t with them on their early friendly matches, told to report to the club on July 21. But with all of the signings Liverpool are making, it seems like the frontline is being filled with versatile wingers and forwards to make up for the future loss of the Uruguayan, even if there still hasn’t been an offer Liverpool are happy with.

It’s still too soon to tell if the arrival of Bernard means more departures – it seems that are too many players to play in the same positions. Brendan Rodgers has a very fluid side in his mind when he thinks about how he wants Liverpool to play, which means that defining players by a single position might not be the way to envision how the ideal Liverpool side will look next season, and stepping on each other’s toes might not be something that will truly happen.

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