EPL side Arsenal are currently out in the market searching for a backup to Bernd Leno and it looks like FC Barcelona’s Neto is about to join them.
Mikel Arteta has not been happy with the performances of Alex Runarsson so far this season and before the January transfer window shuts down, the manager is keen to add a proper 2nd choice keeper to his first-team squad.
The EPL side have so far been linked with a number of shot-stoppers but it seems like they are about to get their hands on Neto after Ronald Koeman admitted that the 31-year-old’s agent has handed in a transfer request.
“Young people are one thing and Neto is another,” Koeman said, as reported. “His representative has requested an exit and we have said no. We want to have the team well covered in all positions.”
Neto is being managed by Kia Joorabchian who has a great relationship with Arsenal which is why we expect this transfer to go ahead smoothly in the coming days despite the Catalans refusing to let him leave.
According to reports in Spain, Neto is keen to join Arsenal on a loan deal for the remainder of the 2020-21 season, in the hopes of making the transfer permanent in the summer.
If Arsenal are ready to insert a mandatory buying clause in the loan deal then we are confident that the Barcelona management will cave in and agree to let Neto leave on loan this month.
The Gunners have also been keeping tabs on players like David Raya and Tom Heaton but now with Neto keen to move out, Arteta is likely to shelf all his other blueprints.
Bernd Leno will obviously be the No 1 at Arsenal in the EPL this season but with the North London side still playing in the Europa League, Neto could get a fair amount of game time if he chooses to head to Premier League in the coming days.
During the 2020-21 campaign, Neto has played in 6 La Liga games for Barcelona, keeping two clean sheets.
