Barcelona player’s agent changes the game for Arsenal | OneFootball

Arsenal are being linked with a move for Barcelona’s Neto whom Ronald Koeman says has put in a transfer request, so what’s going on?

When I first read that we were linked with a move for Barcelona’s goalkeeper, Neto, I gave it little thought.

When I saw Mundo Deportivo report that Neto was demanding he be made number one at Arsenal, I thought ‘good luck with that’ and mostly dismissed the story as one being overblown.

On Sunday morning, however, reports came out of Spain of Ronald Koeman confirming that not only were Arsenal interested, but the player’s agent had put in a transfer request that had been turned down.

The player’s agent, you see, is Edu’s chum, Kia Joorabchian.

That makes things interesting for a number of reasons.

First up, Joorabchian’s brief history with Arsenal tells us we will get an underpar player for overpar wages.

Next, Neto’s demand to be made number one becomes curious. If that’s what he wants AND he’s handed in a transfer request, he must feel fairly confident he will get it.

Arsenal sold Emi Martinez, telling him Bernd Leno was number one and that’s just the way it is. They weren’t even prepared to give him the cup games.

Do you think Neto would want to leave Barcelona for Arsenal under the same conditions that wouldn’t convince Emi Martinez to stay?

Depends how much they offer him, I guess.

Ronald Koeman is adamant the player isn’t going anywhere and Arsenal don’t have anything resembling a decent keeper to offer them to soften the blow.

If they did, they wouldn’t need Neto in the first place.

Arsenal have been stuck with Alex Runarasson as number two when he was purchased to replace Matt Macey as number three after selling Emi Martinez and failing to land David Raya (who has a release clause this summer).

Neto has made just nine appearances for Barcelona this season, conceding seven goals and keeping four cleansheets.

He has not played a game in La Liga since he started against Alaves in a 1-1 draw on 31 October.