Arsenal have ramped up their efforts to sign Espanyol’s highly-rated goalkeeper Joan Garcia after holding further talks last week, according to the Daily Mail.
The Gunners are in the market for a new goalkeeper to provide back-up for first-choice shot-stopper David Raya, with Neto set to return to Bournemouth when his loan spell expires this summer.
Arsenal will face serious competition from La Liga giants Atletico Madrid and Barcelona, while Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen have also thrown their hat in the ring for the ‘outstanding’ keeper.
Despite the calibre of clubs on his trail, Arsenal have the upper hand amid reports that the 23-year-old is enthused about the prospect of challenging his compatriot for the number one spot at Arsenal.
The Gunners are long-term admirers of the Spanish keeper but are yet to find common ground with Espanyol over a suitable transfer fee.
Garcia’s price tag is fluid at the moment and Espanyol’s La Liga fate will determine his final valuation.
The Catalan club are hovering just two points above the relegation zone, so they could be forced to lower their demands if they drop to the Spanish second division.
If that happens, Arsenal can snap him up for £13 million but Espanyol will demand almost double that amount (£22m) if they survive relegation.
However, Arsenal aren’t waiting around to see what happens with the Spanish club and are keen to strike a deal somewhere between those figures.
Garcia has been one of Espanyol’s standout performers this season, gaining widespread popularity for his shot-stopping abilities.
He has won back-to-back La Liga Save of the Month awards and has produced a number of man of the match performances, playing a key role in Espanyol’s battle for survival.
His performances have not gone unnoticed, and his reputation as one of Spain’s most promising goalkeepers continues to grow, with at least four clubs now hot on his trail.
Arsenal are considered the front runners but new sporting director Andrea Berta will make the final call on whether to push ahead with the deal.