Arsenal are expanding their search for the goalkeeper market as they prepare to sign cover and competition for David Raya next summer.
Espanyol's Joan Garcia remains the Gunners' main target but the La Liga club continue to insist that his £25m release clause must be activated for a deal to be completed.
Furthermore, that figure could reportedly rise between now and the summer transfer window if Garcia is called up to the Spanish national team due to a mechanism written into his current contract.
Arsenal launched two failed bids for the 23-year-old in late August in the wake of Aaron Ramsdale's summer move to Southampton, but contact between the parties has since gone cold.
Yet Garcia, who is keen to move, remains highly rated and the club's interest has been piqued by goalkeeping coach Inaki Cana as he believes the Espanyol goalkeeper would be the perfect heir to Raya's throne.
Bournemouth's Neto was instead loaned out as Ramsdale's replacement on transfer deadline day. However, the Brazilian veteran is not currently expected to make a permanent move to North London at the end of the season – although that could change if finding another goalkeeper proves too complex. .
Arsenal are keeping their options open at the moment and Boca Juniors star Leandro Brey has recently been the subject of initial scouting checks.
Lazio, Napoli and Atletico Madrid are also believed to be monitoring his development and Boca president Juan Roman Riquelme is expected to hold talks with several European clubs over a sale in the coming months as he tries to negotiate the best possible deal for the Argentinian giants.
According to sources in South America, Brey's Boca contract would include a release clause worth around £12 million.
Arsenal also have to take into account the tightening of PSR rules and if they want to spend excessive amounts of money on new signings in attack and midfield in January (unlikely) or in the summer, they will want to protect their finances.
Therefore, it may not be feasible in the long term to spend a significant fee on a backup goalkeeper who in theory is only expected to play in domestic cup competitions. Garcia's signature will be valuable and as he continues to perform and excel in La Liga, it is unlikely that Espanyol will soften their firm transfer policy towards a sale.
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