Tottenham Hotspur had made a bid to bring Brazil’s new rising star Bernard to White Hart Lane this summer, it has been revealed.

According to Alexandre Kalil, the president of the Brazilian club Atletico Mineiro, Spurs were in the mix to sign a player who has already been tipped to be one of the stars to watch out for in next summer’s FIFA World Cup at home while fellow North London rivals Arsenal were weighing up a move for the player.

It has now, however, been revealed that the player, who led the Brazilian club to their first ever triumph in the Copa Libertadores could be on his way to Ukrainian giants Shakhtar Donetsk after the Ukrainian club had a bid accepted for the player, believed to be worth over € 20 million.

The Gunners, however, failed to follow up their interest on one of the finds of the FIFA Confederations Cup and the North London club remains the only English side to have made a formal bid for the player. Speaking on an interview at a radio show, Kalil stated that Spurs had indeed made a bid worth around € 18 million or £ 15.7 million, but they also withdrew that bid.

The club president also stated that they wouldn’t push Bernard to move if he didn’t want to move, amidst speculation that the club is forcing the player to move to Shakhtar Donetsk after his father reportedly claimed that he doesn’t want the move so soon for his son and the club is pushing them to accept the offer.

And although Spurs’ bid fell well short of the player’s valuation by his club, it is being believed he will have to move with Shakhtar Donetsk and Portuguese giants Porto now seen as the front runners for his signature.