Joan Garcia has addressed his future amid transfer links to Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Aston Villa.
Newcastle United-linked goalkeeper Joan Garcia has refused to rule out leaving Espanyol this summer.
The 24-year-old made the most saves of any goalkeeper in La Liga last season to help the Catalan side retain their top-flight status in their first campaign back.
As a result, Garcia won the Dani Jarque award, which is given to Espanyol’s best player. However, they are now at risk of losing their number one, whose £21million release clause becomes active this summer.
Newcastle United open to signing a new goalkeeper
Newcastle are open to signing a new goalkeeper this summer, despite currently having five on their books. While Nick Pope is expected to stay, uncertainty surrounds the futures of Martin Dubravka and Odysseas Vlachodimos.
Dubravka was rewarded with a new one-year contract earlier this year after doing superbly in Pope’s absence between December and January, however may still be allowed to leave if another club comes in with an offer,
Meanwhile, Vlachodimos has played just 45 minutes of senior football since arriving from Nottingham Forest last summer as part of the PSR trade-off that saw Elliot Anderson head in the other direction.
John Ruddy and Mark Gillespie are out of contract next month and despite being fourth and fifth choice goalkeeper could be awarded extensions.
Newcastle United among clubs linked with Joan Garcia
Newcastle have been credited with an interest in Garcia, alongside the likes of Barcelona, Aston Villa and Aston Villa, who, according to Fabrizio Romano, agreed personal terms with the goalkeeper last summer.
Amid the speculation, Garcia insists he is feeling relaxed about his future and will take it as and when it comes.
He told 3 Cat Sports: "In the end, football, every now and then, news is coming out, things are coming out. Until it becomes reality... it's not always like that.
“But well, I'm telling you, I'm very calm and then whatever has to be decided, I'll surely think about it a lot with my people and choose what will be best for me... and it will surely be like that."
Newcastle United still very keen on James Trafford
Despite the noise surrounding Garcia, Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford is understood to remain Newcastle’s preferred target.
Trafford has just played a starring role in Burnley’s Championship promotion-winning campaign, keeping 29 clean sheets and conceding just 16 goals. That includes keeping 12 consecutive clean sheets between December and March.
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The Magpies submitted a £16million bid for Trafford last year, which fell short of Burnley’s £20m valuation. The Daily Mail claims his price tag is likely to be around £30m this summer.
It’s understood that the Cumbrian agreed personal terms over a move to St James’ Park last summer and that “verbal pact is still valid” according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.
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