Arsenal's hopes of signing Brazil playmaker Bernard have received another boost after being told the player is theirs - if they come up with a bid of €25m (£21.6m).

Atletico Minieiro director Eduardo Maluf is quoted as saying the club are ready to let the 20-year-old leave for the right price.

"The president [Alexandre Kalil] has already made very clear, if an offer of €25m (£21.6m) arrives, he is going to sell and we will buy another player," he told Radio Globo.

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"If this offer did not appear, Bernard will stay at Atletico. He is young and can leave at the end of the year."

It follows a tweet from the player's agent Adriano Spadoto following Minieiro's victory in the Copa Libertadores final against Olympia in which he hinted Bernard had played his last game for the Brazilian club.

"Congratulations, Bernard. Double-winner! Confederations Cup, Libertadores . . . the perfect farewell," he wrote.

The player himself appears unsure where he will be playing next season and said: "It is up to God to decide whether I stay or not."

Reports in France had suggested the Brazil international would arrive in London today to undergo a medical. In response to those claims, Arsene Wenger said "the report is not true", however, the Frenchman is famed for his obfuscation over transfer dealings.

The 20-year-old Brazilian already has five caps for his national side and is being chased by a number of European clubs, including Porto and Shakhtar Donetsk.

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