Arsenal’s attempts to sign Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia have been complicated by interest from rivals such as Manchester United and Barcelona.
Garcia was Arsenal’s main target for the goalkeeper position last summer, as they looked for a replacement for the departing Aaron Ramsdale. However, after a failed €20 million bid late in the transfer window, they opted for a temporary solution by loaning Neto from Bournemouth.
The Gunners are expected to renew their interest in the 23-year-old this summer, but another impressive season has expanded the list of clubs vying for his signature.
According to MARCA, Barcelona have contacted Garcia’s representatives to express their interest, asking the player to wait for an offer from the Catalan side before making a decision about his future.
However, SPORT reports that Barcelona face a tough battle to win the race for Garcia, as Espanyol are reluctant to negotiate with their city rivals regarding the goalkeeper’s release clause. The club’s sporting director, Fran Garagarza, has admitted that he is open to negotiating with other clubs this summer.
Espanyol would prefer to sell Garcia to the Premier League, where, in addition to Arsenal, Manchester United have also shown interest as they evaluate the future of Andre Onana.
The biggest competition might come from Bayer Leverkusen. According to Mundo Deportivo, Xabi Alonso’s side has made efforts just as significant as Arsenal’s in trying to convince Garcia to join them.
The goalkeeper’s future is expected to be decided early in the summer transfer window. His current release clause is €25 million (£20.6 million), but it will increase to €30 million (£24.8 million) during the last 15 days of the window. Furthermore, reports suggest the amount could rise by another €5 million (£4.1 million) if Garcia receives a call-up to the Spanish national team.