Dubai-based Al-Nasr are still keen on Everton winger Bernard despite a proposed January transfer deal collapsing.
Bernard was strongly tipped to switch to the United Arab Emirates in a £9m move last month, but talks were believed to have collapsed after the winger was training at Finch Farm on the morning of transfer deadline day on Monday.
Having struggled to hold down a starting spot under Carlo Ancelotti, the Toffees were lining up Bernard as one of a number of peripheral options who would be allowed to leave the club on loans and permanent deals before the transfer deadline.
Eight loan or permanent deals were ultimately completed in the January transfer window for Everton, but Bernard was not one of those granted an exit.
However, according to Goal [via HITC], the Emirati club are refusing to drop their interest in Bernard and are looking strongly at bringing him to Dubai in the summer. Indeed, the number seven shirt is supposedly being reserved for his summer arrival.
Separate reports from the Liverpool Echo indicated that it was a case of one or the other at Goodison Park, with Anthony Gordon’s loan departure to Preston North End only sanctioned as a result of the collapse of the Bernard deal.
Bernard himself had approved of the departure, but the two clubs could not agree on the structure of the fee payment to Everton with time running out to complete a deal.
Read Everton Verdict
The impasse between Everton and Al-Nasr may well have confined Bernard to the bench for another few months. He has made just six league appearances this season, mostly as a substitute, and has scored only one goal (Transfermarkt).
The 28-year-old now looks destined to continue his peripheral presence under Ancelotti at Goodison Park, but at least Al-Nasr still seem to want him.
