Barcelona goalkeeper Norberto Neto is a back-up option for Arsenal with the Premier League giants preferring a home-grown shot-stopper instead, as reported by The Guardian.
Earlier this week, the Gunners did what many supporters had been begging them to do – they walked away from a deal to sign Sheffield United’s Aaron Ramsdale.
Now that’s no criticism of Ramsdale.
It’s just that £30 million felt like an awful lot of money for a man who, while undeniably talented, has suffered relegation from the Premier League in each of the past two seasons.
Then again, while many in north London were breathing a sigh of relief as Ramsdale was finally placed on the back burner, there’s a downside.
The fact remains Alex Runarsson – a man put up for sale months ago – will probably be included in the match-day squad for tonight’s top-flight opener against Brentford.
Well, either him or the untested Arthur Okonkwo, a 19-year-old without a single first-team appearance under his belt. If Arsenal are serious about pushing for Europe this season, surely they can’t go into the new campaign with just one top-level shot-stopper in their ranks?
Norberto Neto one of many goalkeepers on the Arsenal radar
According to The Guardian, Arsenal still have their heart set on bringing in a ‘home-grown’ goalkeeper, even if Ramsdale appears to have missed the boat.
It would be no surprise if Sam Johnstone – the England international valued at just £10 million – came back on the agenda during the next couple of weeks.
It’s understood Brazil international Neto, formerly of Juventus, Fiorentina and Valencia, has admirers at the Emirates too.
The 32-year-old is far from Arsenal’s first choice – having never played in England – but he would bring the sort of elite-level experience neither Johnstone nor Ramsdale can match.
Cash-strapped Barcelona are ready to take a massive loss on the now £10 million-rated Neto. According to The Athletic, however, Arsenal would prefer to strike a short-term loan deal, one that would do little to ease Barca’s financial woes.
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