Liverpool tried to sign £50k-a-week Arsenal star several times, says ex-coach

Liverpool tried to recruit £50,000-a-week star Neto several times before he joined Arsenal on loan from AFC Bournemouth, says John Achterberg.

The Gunners signed Neto on a season-long loan last month to provide cover for No.1 goalkeeper David Raya, after they sold Aaron Ramsdale to Southampton.

But things could’ve been very different for Neto given that he was heavily scouted by Liverpool for years, according to former Reds goalkeeping coach Achterberg.

‘I looked at everything every year when there were new goalies coming in the leagues,’ Achterberg told the LFC Transfer Room Podcast.

‘I’d try to find them, make lists on that and then if I found goalkeepers who played the way we wanted to play I’d come back to that.

‘Neto was a goalkeeper we tried a few times to get as well, but that didn’t come off.

‘He could play the way we wanted to play. When you’re at Liverpool there aren’t too many at the top level to find.’

Neto, 35, is waiting to make his first appearance for the north Londoners since he joined the club on loan from Bournemouth.

The Cherries were happy to let Neto make the temporary switch after bringing in Kepa Arrizabalaga on loan from Chelsea.

Neto arrived in the Premier League in 2022 with plenty of experience – with Bournemouth signing him from Barcelona – and he later became Cherries captain.

Before his spell with Barcelona, Neto played for Valencia, Juventus, Fiorentina and Athletico Paranaense.

‘I’m realising a dream in my life, a dream come true, and I’m really, really happy,’ Neto told the Arsenal website when his loan move was officially announced.

‘I had two dreams as a kid to play for a football team. It was my team in Brazil, where I grew up and became a professional footballer, and also Arsenal. And now I’m realising it! I’m a really lucky person.’