Arsenal Transfer News: How Losing Battle for Bernard Affects Gunners

Despite being linked with a host of big-name players from around the world, Arsenal are still yet to add a senior player to their squad during the summer transfer window.

For a club that only just managed to squeeze into a Champions League place on the final day of last season, the lack of activity at Emirates is completely baffling.

How can Arsene Wenger risk falling further away from the title challengers with his transfer-market inactivity, as the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea splash the cash and improve their squads with talent from across Europe?

The Frenchman has already seen Gonzalo Higuain slip through his fingers, with the Argentine striker moving to Italian side Napoli last week.

And his bid for Liverpool's Luis Suarez, although ambitious, looks destined to fail unless the Gunners offer at least £50 million for the Uruguayan's services.

Another rumoured Arsenal target who could be on his way elsewhere is Atletico Mineiro star Bernard.

ESPN are reporting that the player will join either FC Porto or Shakhtar Donetsk. His agent, Adriano Spadotto, is quoted as saying:

"

I can confirm that is the strongest possibility (moving to Porto), but Shakhtar are interested too. He should join one of the two clubs.

If it is up to me, Bernard will be a Porto player. As I have said, this would be the best solution for him.

He would prefer to join a middling, but good, club in Europe rather than risk joining an elite club and not getting the chance to play. Bernard has great interest in going to Porto.

"

To lose out on yet another transfer target, particularly to a club outside of Europe's top four leagues, will be a devastating blow for the North London club.

With their stadium, big wages, Champions League football and location, Arsenal should be capable of attracting world-class players. 

Instead, their fans are having to face the prospect of the starting the season with only youngster Yaya Sanogo added to the squad.

Wenger has come under increased pressure to finally end the club's long trophy drought, and next season promises to be filled with scrutiny, particularly after chief executive Ivan Gazidis confirmed the manager has money to spend.

Perhaps his inability to target top talent in previous transfer windows is affecting his judgement this time around. Whatever the issue is, it needs to stop now.

The club's preseason preparations are already well underway, severely limiting the amount of time any new recruits have to prepare ahead of the season-opener at home to Aston Villa.

There's nothing wrong with scouting a player properly and negotiating the best possible deal, as has been Arsenal's way during the Premier League era.

But, as Bernard is added to the list of missed targets rather than signings, Wenger will need to be aware that time is running out for him to assemble a squad capable of challenging for more than just fourth place.