Frank Lampard, meanwhile, is expected to be rested from the pre-season fixture against Malaysia today after missing training yesterday with an injury to his achilles tendon.
Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool have all inquired about the £20 million-rated Brazilian forward Bernard.
The Premier League trio face competition from Porto and Shakhtar Donestk for the 20-year-old who is set to leave his present club, Atletico Mineiro, after the Copa Libertadores final second leg on July 24.
That match is a trigger date for negotiations to begin in earnest to sign Bernard, who broke into the senior Brazil national team last season and is part of Luiz Felipe Scolari's plans for the World Cup finals next summer.
Bernard has been admired by Spurs head coach Andre Villas-Boas for some time, indeed he urged the club to make a bid last summer, but they face stiff competition from a number of other leading clubs throughout Europe.
Bernard is a quick wide player, who can also come inside, primarily from the left, and although there have been some concerns about his size – he is just 5ft??5in – he has developed into an exciting, goal-scoring attacker. Even so demanding a fee of £20 million would appear to be high for a player who may take some time to adjust to the pace and power of the Premier League.
Nevertheless Arsenal and Liverpool have also now joined the bidding with Bernard having already hinted that he is ready to leave after the return leg against Paraguay's Olimpia next Wednesday.
Spurs are also considering cheaper options for the role – including FC?? Twente's Nacer Chadli, who is in the final year of his contract and would cost significantly less than Bernard. So far Spurs have not made a bid for the 23-year-old Belgium international winger who is also wanted by Shakhtar.
Spurs remain in the market for a top-class striker, with Emmanuel Adebayor up for sale, but suffered a blow with Christian Benteke withdrawing his transfer request and signing a new deal at Aston Villa. Spurs had bid £18?? million for Benteke and were considering an improved bid later in the window. However they were unlikely to meet Villa's expected asking price of £25??million.
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