Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta
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Arsenal’s summer transfer plans could take a hit as Espanyol reportedly favours selling their top goalkeeper, Joan Garcia, to Real Madrid over the Gunners.
With Neto set to return to Bournemouth after his loan spell, Arsenal are in the market for a new goalkeeper. The club is expected to revisit a move for Garcia, a target they pursued last summer but failed to secure.
Arsenal made a move for Joan Garcia last summer, but their efforts came too late. The 23-year-old shot-stopper was only pursued after Aaron Ramsdale’s departure to Southampton, by which time Espanyol refused to negotiate below his €30 million release clause. Instead of activating the clause, Arsenal opted for a short-term solution by bringing in Neto on loan.
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Despite failing to land Garcia last year, Arsenal remain keen on the Spaniard, but their pursuit faces a significant challenge. Real Madrid and Barcelona have also expressed interest, and Espanyol appears more willing to sell to Los Blancos than their Catalan rivals.
Joan Garcia
Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia (Image credit: Getty Images)
According to journalist Eduardo Inda on El Chiringuito de Jugones (viaFichajes), Espanyol would rather do business with Real Madrid than allow Garcia to join Barcelona.
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“Joan García seems to me to be one of the great sensations of La Liga. He is a huge goalkeeper. He has an affordable clause of €30m, which would drop to €15m if Espanyol are relegated. Espanyol knows that Barcelona are after the goalkeeper, who is Catalan. However, they have conveyed to Real Madrid that they prefer to sell him to them rather than to Barcelona.”
While Arsenal remain hopeful of securing Garcia, they may struggle to convince him to move to North London. The young goalkeeper reportedly wants to be a first-choice option at his next club, which could be a dealbreaker.
With David Raya firmly established as Arsenal’s No.1, Garcia would likely only serve as a backup at the Emirates. Similarly, Real Madrid face a similar issue, as Thibaut Courtois remains their undisputed first-choice keeper.
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