Arsenal have stepped up their efforts to sign Joan Garcia, and the player could be available for a cut-price fee if Espanyol are relegated this season.
VITORIA-GASTEIZ, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 22: Joan Garcia of RCD Espanyol warms up prior to the LaLiga match between Deportivo Alaves and RCD Espanyol de Barcelona at Estadio de Mendizorroza on February 22, 2025 in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images
Simon Jones reports for the Daily Mail that Arsenal have stepped up attempts to sign Joan Garcia from Espanyol, holding further talks over the goalkeeper last week.
Despite rival interest from the likes of Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, and Barcelona, Garcia has reportedly shown a willingness to accept the challenge of competing with David Raya for the first-choice spot at Arsenal.
A fee hasn’t been agreed, likely in part because Garcia’s release clause hasn’t been finalised yet.
BARCELONA, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 01: Joan Garcia of RCD Espanyol celebrates victory following the LaLiga match between RCD Espanyol de Barcelona and Real Madrid CF at RCDE Stadium on February 01, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images
If Espanyol are relegated, Jones reports that Garcia’s clause will drop to around £13m, significantly less than the current clause. Previous reports had stated his clause as it stands is €30m (£25.3m).
Arsenal will therefore wait to see how the season plays out. If Espanyol go down, Garcia’s fee could be an easy bargain. If not, they may need to do some negotiating.
Espanyol are currently two points and two places clear of the relegation zone, with Alaves (27 points), Leganes (27 points), and Las Palmas (26 points) on their tail.
Joan Garcia playing for Espanyol (Photo via Garcia on Instagram)
Photo via Garcia on Instagram
The Gunners have already shown they’re willing to invest a decent fee in Garcia, making a €25m (£20.8m) bid for him last summer. When Espanyol rejected the deadline-day approach, it was too late to find a compromise, and Arsenal signed Neto on loan from Bournemouth instead.
It’s unclear whether or not that will turn out to be a good thing. Arsenal could sign Garcia for even less than their previous bid, but the last year has also seen the goalkeeper’s stock rise significantly with multiple rival suitors emerging.
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