Now the Premier League campaign has come to an end, all eyes will be on the transfer market ahead of a big summer for Newcastle United.
With guaranteed Champions League football, and having built up PSR breathing room over the past three windows, we’re already being linked with a number of big names both domestically and across the continent.
But according to new reports, we’re set to face fresh competition for one of our emerging targets from a Champions League rival and Europe giant at that.
And it’s an eerily similar situation to one we saw last summer, where Eddie Howe’s side missed out on a top prospect in frustrating circumstances.
Reports from earlier this month hinted that we were in pole position to sign the highly-rated Spanish goalkeeper Joan Garcia from RCD Espanyol, with his €25m release clause tempting a number of clubs.
However, Hansi Flick’s Barcelona may have thrown a spanner in the works, with Fabrizio Romano reporting that the newly-crowned Spanish champions are also eyeing up Garcia.
He reports that ‘concrete interest’ has been shown, revealing that the La Liga giants would like to activate his release clause and loan him out to another club, with Valencia mentioned in the Spanish media as a potential destination on Sunday.
Writing on X, Romano commented “Barcelona initial plan for Joan García would be to sign the GK from Espanyol for €25m clause and loan him out to another club.
“There are more clubs in the race and no decision has been made at this stage, all open. Player’s decision will also be key.”
As we’ve seen in the Dean Huijsen transfer saga, we may not be looking to compete with Europe’s truly elite sides over transfers this summer, so would it come as a big surprise if we focus our interest in James Trafford or Gregor Kobel to avoid a battle over Garcia’s signature with Barcelona?
The early signs of the Joan Garcia transfer saga are oddly reminiscent of something we saw just last summer.
We had been heavily linked with a move for Valencia and Georgia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, before Liverpool pipped us to the shot-stopper, who then agreed to spend a year on loan from Liverpool at Valencia.
Considering how well-regarded Mamardashvili is, and the potential of Garcia, Newcastle and Eddie Howe have a headache on their hands over whether or not to pursue a deal for the Espanyol keeper or risk setting a precedent over who we will and won’t make a move for.
Tottenham linked with Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia