Barcelona have reportedly set their sights on former La Masia ace Andre Onana over a possible move in the summer transfer window.
According to a report by Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo, Andre Onana is the subject of interest from Barcelona over a move in the summer transfer window. The Blaugrana are set to enter the market for a goalkeeper ahead of next season, with Neto set to call it quits at Camp Nou.
Andre Onana has created quite a career for himself since leaving Barcelona to join Ajax in the summer of 2015. A former member of the Catalan giants’ famous academy La Masia, the 25-year-old never turned out for the Barcelona first-team, making his senior club debut for Ajax in 2016.
Since then, the Cameroonian goalkeeper has amassed 204 appearances for the Dutch giants, with an impressive 83 clean sheets to boot. However, Onana is currently at the lowest ebb of his senior footballing career, as he serves a twelve-month doping ban imposed by FIFA, making him ineligible to play football until February 2022.
However, with a hearing with the Court of Arbitration for Sport slated for June, Onana is hoping to get his sentence reduced to eight months, which could enable him to return to action next season. With that in mind, the interest in him is ramping up, with Arsenal being linked recently, while former club Barcelona, too, have emerged in his pursuit.
Barcelona could be forced to enter the market for a goalkeeper this coming summer, with Neto set to leave the club in search of regular game-time. The Brazilian has been linked with a possible move to Arsenal and for now, Inaki Pena is the only viable backup option for current no. 1 Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
The report suggests that Barcelona do rate Pena highly and could well promote him to the role of being ter Stegen’s deputy next season. However, the La Liga heavyweights are keeping their options open, which is why they have also turned their attention towards former academy ace.
Pending the reduction of his doping ban, Onana could indeed be a fine option for Barcelona and Ajax will let him leave for an affordable sum, keeping in mind the fact that his contract with them runs out next summer in addition to their fine working relationship with Barcelona.
What will now be interesting to see is whether the ban gets reduced, thereby enabling Onana to be back in action next season, possibly by sealing a move to Barcelona. It also remains to be seen if Pena is promoted to be ter Stegen’s deputy instead. An intriguing summer beckons.