Report: Everton in talks with Al-Nasr over late window exit of Bernard
Everton winger Bernard looks set to leave Goodison Park this month as the club have opened talks with UAE Pro League club Al-Nasr.
According to the Liverpool Echo, talks have begun between the two clubs over the Brazilian who has less than 18 months left on his contract.
Bernard has fallen down the pecking order under Carlo Ancelotti, playing just 309 minutes in the 2020/21 Premier League campaign.
He was an unused substitute in the FA Cup victory over Sheffield Wednesday, and hasn’t featured in the league since the new years day defeat at home to West Ham.
The winger’s scored just twice and assisted once in all competitions this year, as the boss has favoured Alex Iowbi, James Rodriguez and Richarlison in the wide areas.
Bernard is said to be one of the highest earners for the Toffees. The winger is on at least £100,000 per week, and would benefit greatly in getting him off of the wage bill.
Never really got going
It’s probably fair to say that Bernard has been a bit of a flop at Everton.
The Brazilian joined Everton in August 2018 from Shakhtar Donetsk on a free transfer. The Toffees beat AC Milan and West Ham to his signature.
He’d been somewhat successful during his time in Ukraine. During his 2017/18 season, Bernard scored ten times and provided three assists, whilst completing 85% of his attempted passes [WyScout].
He featured heavily in the 2018/19 campaign for Everton, making 34 league appearances under former boss Marco Silva.
That season he maintained a passing accuracy of 75.8% and completed 52.9% of his dribbles successfully. He averaged 4.19 interceptions and 5.19 recoveries per 90 minutes.
Whilst his first season was mediocre, he hasn’t been able to better those numbers in the two seasons that have followed.
Ancelotti seems to have seen enough from the winger. There’s no indication as to what fee the Toffees could get for him, but it’s unlikely he’ll be replaced this window.
In other Everton news, Campbell backs this youngster to succeed if he leaves in January.