Arsenal have enquired about Barcelona goalkeeper Neto with Bernd Leno potentially set to miss up to six months through injury.
The German goalkeeper picked up a serious knee injury in the defeat to Brighton last week after falling awkwardly under a challenge from striker Neal Maupay.
Arsenal are yet to confirm the extent of the German’s injury but according to Sport, ‘everything suggests’ that he will be missing for at least six months, meaning Arsenal will need to find a replacement.
The man they have identified is Barcelona’s Neto, with the newspaper reporting they have already ‘asked about’ the 30-year-old.
They explain that his agent, Kia Joorabchian, who also represents Philippe Coutinho, has a good relationship with Arsenal and thus a move made sense.
The Gunners were looking to secure a loan with a purchase option included, but this was rejected by Barcelona, who would only let him leave if it was in a permanent, €20m deal.
However, there may be another solution. Barcelona are interested in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and the idea of an exchange with money should be ‘considered’.
That, though, is unlikely, as Aubameyang is only an option for Barcelona if they fail to sign Lautaro Martínez from Inter Milan.
That is a deal they are working on with the Italian side, and those negotiations could go on for weeks before Barcelona decide to abandon them and turn to Aubameyang.
That wouldn’t suit Arsenal, who are ‘in a hurry’ to get a replacement for Leno to the club, suggesting they may just pay up to get Neto or turn their attention elsewhere.
