Arsenal reportedly shortlist 22-year-old Boca Juniors goalkeeper Leandro Brey as a transfer target for the January 2025 window.
Arsenal have reportedly shortlisted 22-year-old Boca Juniors goalkeeper Leandro Brey as a transfer target for the January 2025 window.
It was all change in the goalkeeping department at the Emirates over the summer, as the Gunners unsurprisingly took up their option to sign David Raya from Brentford on a permanent deal.
After spending one season as Raya’s backup, former number one Aaron Ramsdale jumped ship for Southampton on transfer deadline day, and he was replaced by on-loan Bournemouth man Neto.
The Gunners also added a couple of youthful options to their ranks in the shape of Tommy Setford and Lucas Nygaard, as Arthur Okonkwo departed for Wrexham on a permanent deal.
Setford has already appeared for Arsenal in the EFL Cup – which Neto is ineligible for – alongside 16-year-old Jack Porter, who became the Gunners’ youngest-ever starter in the competition against Bolton Wanderers in September.
Arsenal scout Brey ‘multiple times’
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There is no suggestion that Arsenal will convert Neto’s loan into a permanent deal, though, and the Brazilian is expected to return to Bournemouth when the current campaign concludes.
Rather than promote Setford, Nygaard, Porter or Alexei Rojas to the role of number two, The Mirror claims that the Gunners could pursue a deal for Boca’s Brey early next year instead.
The 22-year-old Argentinian has apparently already been scouted by the North London giants ‘multiple times’, and ‘positive reports’ have been passed on to head coach Mikel Arteta.
Brey is still contracted to Boca Juniors until New Year’s Eve 2027, but the shot-stopper would supposedly be open to a mid-season switch to Arsenal, who could agree to loan him back to his current club for the remainder of the season.
Who is rumoured Arsenal target Brey?
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Formerly of Los Andes, Brey joined the Boca Juniors ranks for a nominal fee of €394,000 (£327,731) in early 2022, and the 22-year-old is starting to make a name for himself in South America.
Brey has made 22 senior appearances for Boca Juniors across all competitions, keeping 11 clean sheets – including five in his last five league appearances – while conceding just 16 goals.
An Argentina Under-23 international, the 2002-born shot-stopper was selected to travel with his country for the 2024 Olympics in Paris, but he was an unused substitute throughout La Albiceleste’s run to the quarter-finals as the experienced Geronimo Rulli guarded the posts.
Brey stands at 6ft 3in tall and started out as a defender during his childhood, but he was released from the Los Andes academy while playing outfield before being reinstated as a goalkeeper.
Arsenal return to Premier League action at home to Ipswich Town on Friday evening, where a win will take them above Nottingham Forest and Chelsea into second place in the top-flight table.
