La Liga heavyweights Barcelona are reportedly willing to offload Neto this summer amid interest from Arsenal and will accept any offer from a suitor.
According to a report by Goal, Neto’s frustrating stint with Barcelona will soon end in the summer transfer window. If they receive an offer, the Catalan giants are ready to sell the Brazilian goalkeeper, a target for Arsenal, with any proposal deemed acceptable for approval.
Neto has played for some of the most well-known clubs since arriving in Europe by joining Fiorentina. A short stint with Juventus followed before he moved to Spain by signing for Valencia in July 2017. The 32-year-old enjoyed a decent two-year spell with Los Che and took the next step in his career by completing a transfer to Barcelona.
But the spell at Camp Nou has been frustrating for Neto, who has only featured in cup competitions unless Marc-Andre ter Stegen is unavailable. The Brazilian goalkeeper has turned out just 21 times for Barcelona, keeping seven clean sheets. And Neto is keen on leaving Barcelona this summer to seek regular game-time, with Arsenal among his prospective suitors.
The interest from Arsenal stems from the rising uncertainties surrounding the future of Bernd Leno heading into the summer transfer window. After falling down the pecking order this past season, the German international will likely leave Arsenal in the summer transfer window.
Leno has been the first-choice goalkeeper for the Gunners for much of his stint following his arrival from Bayer Leverkusen. But the experienced shot-stopper was deputy to Aaron Ramsdale after the English goalkeeper’s move from Sheffield United last summer.
Leno is thus keen on leaving Arsenal to become the first-choice goalkeeper elsewhere, with Benfica among the clubs keen on signing him. As a result, Neto has emerged on Arsenal’s radar amid the uncertainties surrounding his future at FC Barcelona. And Barcelona will consider any and every offer to offload the 32-year-old this summer.
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Recent reports had suggested that Barcelona once considered terminating Neto’s contract to get his wages off their books. But recouping a transfer fee will also help, although a move to Arsenal seems unlikely considering Neto’s desire to feature prominently for his next club. Meanwhile, Inaki Pena will likely become ter Stegen’s backup once Neto leaves Barcelona.
