Arsenal are closing in on Atletico Mineiro midfielder Bernard today.

The Daily Mail says Liverpool and Tottenham were also locked in a scramble to sign Bernard, along with Porto, Borussia Dortmund and Shakhtar Donetsk, but they may now have been deterred by Mineiro's valuation.

Bernard's agent Adriano Spadoto appeared to confirm as much, with a Facebook message that read: "Negotiations with Tottenham and Dortmund have cooled, due to the high asking price."

But an imminent breakthrough for Arsenal appeared to be on the cards, as Spadoto then wrote on Twitter: "Congratulations Bernard. Double winner! Confederations Cup, Libertadores .. the perfect farewell."