Arsenal target Andre Onana is in line for a return to Barcelona, with Mundo Deportivo reporting that the La Liga giants have held talks with the Ajax goalkeeper.
Of course, any hopes Onana may have of securing second spell at the Camp Nou could rest on the outcome of that Court of Arbitration hearing in early June.
The Cameroon international has been handed a 12-month doping ban – one that might rule him out until February 2022.
Onana insists that this has all been a horrible misunderstanding, however, and there is still some belief that his sentence will be reduced on appeal.
Either way, it seems unlikely that even a lengthy ban will stand in Onana’s way as the 25-year-old prepares to graduate with flying colours from the Johan Cryuff finishing school.
Goal reported two weeks ago that Arsenal are considering a cut-price £7 million move for a talented shot-stopper they first expressed an interest in as far back as January 2020.
Onana was deemed to be too expensive at the time but, with his contract expiring next summer, the 18-capped glovesman is expected to be available for a knock-down fee.
But will Ajax’s number one turn down Arsenal’s advances in favour of a return to the club where he started his career back in 2010.
MD report that Barcelona have held initial talks with Onana’s camp. Ronald Koeman’s side are in the market for a goalkeeper themselves, with Marc-Andre Ter Stegen needing surgery and the seldom-seen Neto destined to depart.
Onana spent five years in the famed La Masia academy before swapping Barcelona for Amsterdam. Who could blame him if he feels he has unfinished business in Catalonia?
Arsenal’s reported interest, meanwhile, only serves to raise further questions about Bernd Leno’s future with Unai Simon linked.
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