Barcelona have reached an agreement in principle to beat Arsenal to the signing of Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia, according to reports in Spain.
Garcia made his debut for Espanyol’s first-team in 2021 and has gone on to establish himself as one of the finest goalkeepers in La Liga over the last two seasons.
Espanyol narrowly avoided relegation on the final day this term and Garcia was the shining light across the club’s difficult campaign. The 24-year-old finished with the most saves of any shot-stopper in the Spanish top flight (146) – equating to almost four saves per game.
Last summer, Arsenal agreed personal terms with Garcia, only for the proposed deal to fall through after the Gunners refused to meet Espanyol’s demands for the Olympic gold medallist.
And while the north Londoners remain keen on Garcia, it appears Barca are rapidly closing in on signing the ‘keeper from their bitter city rivals in the summer transfer window.
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According to Spanish publication AS, Barca have now struck a deal in principle for Garcia and the Catalan giants have intimated that they are prepared to pay the price for his release.
Garcia will cost €25million, but this could rise to €30m if he is called up by Luis de la Fuente for Spain’s next Nations League squad.
The report states that Garcia’s goal is to secure guaranteed playing time and he has made this clear to all parties involved.
Given Marc-Andre ter Stegen stands in his way at Barca, the idea is to loan Garcia out to another La Liga side next season. Real Betis and Valencia are both said to be interested in a temporary move.
It’s claimed Barca do not want to pass up the opportunity to capture Garcia and the club are determined to back Hansi Flick, who steered the Camp Nou outfit to three titles out of a possible four this season.
However, asked about the latest rumours linking Barca with Garcia following his side’s 3-0 win at Athletic Bilbao, Flick replied: ‘Joan Garcia? I don’t talk about players who aren’t in my team.
‘We already have three fantastic goalkeepers.’
Meanwhile, Espanyol head coach Manolo Gonzalez has advised Garcia to think ‘very carefully’ about joining Barca given the fierce competition he would face from Ter Stegen and Szczesny.
‘I know he has strong feelings for Espanyol,’ Gonzalez told reporters on Sunday.
‘I’m not in his head, but I would be very surprised if he went to Barca because they have Ter Stegen and because they’re our eternal rival.
‘I would be very surprised… but I’m not in anyone’s head and I don’t know what he’ll do. I won’t tell him anything.’
Gonzalez added: ‘If someone pays his release clause and he wants to, there’s nothing we can do.
‘What I’ve told him is to think it over very carefully because what he has to do now is play.
‘What I want is for him to go somewhere where he can play and be happy, be a top player, not to go somewhere where there’s a veteran goalkeeper who overtakes him because of his name.
‘He must continue playing and be a starter. I hope he makes his choices wisely and doesn’t opt for name or money alone.’
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