Villarreal linked to move for wantaway Barcelona player on Transfer Deadline Day

Per EPM, linked here via our friends at Football-Espana, Neto, who has wanted away from Barcelona all summer, is in the sights of Villarreal as we go looking for an upgrade on our two inconsistent goalkeepers. The reported deal is for about 8m, which is cash Barcelona needs desperately and may be willing to take for a player who wouldn’t see much more than Copa Del Rey duty so long as Marc Andre Ter Stegen is healthy.

It has also been reported by a Dutch source today, De Telegraaf, that we have inquired about André Onana Onana from Ajax. Given a straight choice between the two, I’d rather have the Ajax keeper, but it doesn’t appear the Dutch club is interested in selling and buying a former Valencia player off a cash strapped side seems a lot more like our modus operandi anyway.

Before moving to Barcelona, Neto put up excellent shot stopping metrics for Valencia, even saving 11 more goals than the post shot expected goals he faced in 2017-2018. He’s a bit older now, and hasn’t really played consistently since 2019, so even if he does have that old form in him it may take a while for him to get there.

I’m all for improving the goalkeeper situation, but for Neto to be an improvement we are probably going to have to be patient with him. After three draws to start the year and THAT goalkeeper blunder from Rulli this past Sunday, I wonder whether the club and fanbase have the patience to allow this thing a chance to work. The price is a lot for a 32 year old player, but the club goes into a Champions League campaign looking to make the most of their opportunity, and it seems like it may be a risk they are willing to take.