Four goalkeeper transfers Arsenal could turn to instead of Joan Garcia including Champions League semi-finalist

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It’s looking increasingly unlikely that Arsenal will be able to seal a deal for Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia this summer.

Garcia has been identified as Arsenal’s primary goalkeeper target, as the Gunners look to recruit a new back-up for David Raya.

The 23-year-old has enjoyed an excellent debut campaign in La Liga, keeping seven clean sheets, despite Espanyol being embroiled in a relegation battle.

This form has seen the Spaniard’s stock rise and he’s subsequently attracting interest from a host of clubs throughout Europe, who potentially want to give him the number one shirt.

Arsenal are happy with Raya as their first choice in between the sticks, and this may mean that they’re unable to attract Garcia to the Emirates.

With that said, here are four alternatives that the Gunners should be exploring, as they look to source their Neto replacement.

• READ MORE: Three defensive options Arsenal could turn to after Dean Huijsen is snapped up by Real Madrid

Four goalkeepers Arsenal should consider signing instead of Joan Garcia

Yahia Fofana – Angers

Arsenal Insider revealed this week that Yahia Fofana is one of the goalkeepers Arsenal are looking at, in case they’re unable to land Garcia.

The 24-year-old has had an excellent season for Angers in Ligue 1, keeping seven clean sheets in 33 games for the French side.

Fofana has also established himself as the Ivory Coast’s number one, and Arsenal have been impressed with his modern set of attributes, which make him perfectly suited to playing in a possession-oriented system.

Angers narrowly avoided relegation from the French top flight this season, but would likely sanction a departure for their shot-stopper for a modest fee.

Anthony Patterson – Sunderland

Arsenal’s chances of landing Anthony Patterson likely hinge on the outcome of Saturday’s Championship play-off final.

The Sunderland number one will likely be difficult to pry away from the Stadium of Light if the Black Cats win promotion to the Premier League.

However, if Sheffield United come out on top, then the Gunners can probably seduce the Englishman into making a move to N5, while Sunderland will likely be happy to sell one of their prized assets.

Similarly to Fofana, Patterson is a modern goalkeeper who is adept with the ball at his feet, as well as being an imposing shot-stopper who is effective at claiming crosses.

Just 25 and homegrown, he would be the perfect Raya deputy, if Arsenal could pull the deal off.

Wojciech Szczesny – Barcelona

Arsenal should be considering former player Wojciech Szczesny for the role of deputising for Raya.

Szczesny is an avid Arsenal fan and would thus surely be open to the possibility of ending his illustrious career back in North London, after a fairytale post-retirement season at Barcelona.

Showing with his form in the Champions League for the Catalan giants that he’s still capable of producing at a high level, the Pole would also be available on a free transfer, allowing Arsenal to allocate resources elsewhere.

A stop-gap solution to a not especially pressing issue in the squad, the Gunners should at the very least be enquiring about Szczesny’s potential interest in the move.

Jason Steele – Brighton

Arsenal were linked with Jason Steele last summer, before eventually settling on Neto on loan from Bournemouth.

The Gunners ought to consider returning for the Englishman, who, like Patterson, fits the homegrown profile.

Brighton ultimately didn’t seem willing to negotiate with Arsenal for Steele last summer, but the former Blackburn man is no longer job-sharing with Bart Verbruggen at the Amex, having been firmly relegated to the number two role by Fabian Hurzeler.

Having played in a team that likes to play out from the back, Steele’s distribution is competent, while he’d likely cost very little given he’s entering the latter stages of his career and has one year left on his deal on the south coast.