According to The Mirror, West Ham United have stepped up their interest in free agent Bernard as the Hammers look to bring the attacker to the London Stadium.

What's the story?

West Ham have already been incredibly busy in this summer's transfer window, with no less than eight new players arriving at the club.

Head coach Manuel Pellegrini has certainly not been shy in over-hauling the squad, and it is understood that the Chilean is far from finished ahead of the start of the new Premier League campaign.

According to The Mirror, having been linked with a move earlier this summer, West Ham are now stepping up their interest in Brazilian attacker Bernard.

Bernard is available on a free transfer this summer having seen his contract with Shakhtar Donetsk expire at the end of the 2017-18 campaign.

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A number of clubs - unsurprisingly - have been credited with an interest, but West Ham are said to be confident of securing a deal ahead of their Premier League opener against Liverpool next weekend.

Would Bernard be a good signing?

The deal is a bit of a no-brainer for West Ham when considering that they would not have to pay a transfer fee for the extremely gifted 25-year-old.

Bernard will command big wages, but the Hammers have already shown this summer that they are not afraid to spend in order to reach a new level.

Bernard is a 14-time Brazil international, and scored 28 goals and registered 35 assists in 157 appearances in all competitions for Shakhtar before his departure.

Boasting the ability to create, score goals and dazzle in the final third of the field, the Brazilian, who won three Ukrainian titles with Shakhtar, has the potential to be a real crowd favourite if he moves to the Hammers.

West Ham's ninth signing of a busy window could be very impressive indeed.