Liverpool Reportedly Eye Bernard as Konoplyanka Alternative

Although the transfer window hasn’t opened in earnest quite yet, Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has expressed a desire to get cracking on deals as soon as possible with this summers World Cup in Brazil sure to complicate matters further.

With a battle reportedly on the horizon for Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk winger Yevhen Konoplyanka, the Merseyside giants are apparently weighing their options with Shakthar Donestk attacker Bernard seen as an acceptable alternative to the 24-year old Ukrainian. The Reds were linked with a move for the talented Brazilian last summer before he decided to make the switch to Shakthar in a deal worth €25mil — though with the political unrest in the Eastern European country coming to a head, the 21-year old is reportedly looking for a way out.

With the talented youngster set to strut his stuff in Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side at the World Cup this summer, there have been whispers that Brazilian side Sao Paulo will be swooping in for their countryman following the tournament. Whether or not they’ll be able to stump up the cash remains to be seen, but with Rodgers reportedly handed oodles of cash to build a squad capable of challenging on both the domestic front and in Europe, the £19mil price tag placed on his head could be enough to tempt the Northern Irishman into making a move.

At £7mil less, Konoplyanka certainly represents the cheaper option, but after running into complications trying to tie up a deal for the Ukrainian in January, the Liverpool hierarchy could be looking to avoid another headache in dealing with the stubborn Dnipro regime this summer. With Bernard apparently being offered around as his agent tries to orchestrate a move, Rodgers could act fast to snap up the talented youngster before his price balloons should he have a good showing at the World Cup.

Or, you know, this could just be another load of crap.