Barcelona have dealt Arsenal a transfer blow by securing Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia in a £21m move, forcing the Gunners to reconsider their options.
Barcelona has reportedly agreed terms with Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia, handing Arsenal a transfer blow. The Gunners had hoped to secure the highly-rated shot-stopper to provide competition for David Raya, but the 24-year-old now looks set to remain in Spain.
Garcia has established himself as one of La Liga’s standout goalkeepers, registering the most saves in the Spanish top flight last season (146) and earning Espanyol’s Dani Jarque award for Player of the Season. His performances had attracted interest from several Premier League clubs, including Manchester United and Aston Villa, but Barcelona have moved swiftly to secure his signature.
Reports indicate that Barcelona are set to trigger Garcia’s €25 million (£21m) release clause in the coming days. The Catalan giants view him as a key addition to their squad, providing competition for Wojciech Szczesny and Marc-André ter Stegen, who recently returned from a lengthy injury spell.
With Garcia seemingly out of reach, Arsenal will need to resume their search for a second-choice goalkeeper. The club had previously relied on Neto, who has now returned to Bournemouth following his season-long loan. Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta’s side are closing in on their first summer signing, with Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi set to undergo a medical at the club. Additionally, Arsenal are making progress in their bid to sign a striker, reportedly holding ‘concrete talks’ with RB Leipzig over the transfer of Benjamin Sesko.
Speaking after playing for Catalonia’s national side in their 2-0 victory against Costa Rica, Garcia remained coy about his future, stating:
“I’m very calm. Many things are coming up, and I want to rest now. These are things that don’t depend solely on me. I’m an Espanyol player, if something comes along that seems good to them and to me too, it will be decided. I’m focused on my feelings and those of the people I care about.”
Arsenal’s pursuit of Garcia appears to have ended in disappointment, with Barcelona set to finalize the deal. The Gunners must now turn their attention to alternative options as they look to strengthen their squad ahead of the new season.
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