· 28 May 2025, 19:30
**Newcastle United have been heavily linked with a move for Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia and the Magpies fancy their chances despite strong competition.**
Manchester City, Arsenal and Barcelona were also keen on the Spanish goalkeeper who has a lot of buzz around him after a fantastic season in La Liga.
Recently, it was reported that Garcia had rejected the offer from Barcelona, who had planned to loan him back to Espanyol next season, and that the 24-year-old preferred a move to the Premier League.
However, now, journalist Xavi Espinosa has a different take, but it still remains positive for Eddie Howe.
> [](https://twitter.com/xaviespinosaa/status/1927736042624332000)
Joan Garcia is to decide between Newcastle and Barcelona
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Espinosa claims that Man City have withdrawn their interest and that Garcia is to make a decision between Barcelona and Newcastle.
> "👉🏽 We update Joan Garcia: Newcastle or Barça.
>
> "❌ He's been ruled out by Manchester City, and the player has already made his decision; it's a matter of two destinations. They're the options that best suit him."
Newcastle could see many changes to their goalkeeper lineup
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If we take what Espinosa has said along with the claims that Garcia favours a move to the Premier League, then we can only come to the conclusion that Garcia is Newcastle-bound.
Should this be the case, the question is, are we still chasing James Trafford too? Or was Trafford the smokescreen while we worked on Joan Garcia?
Newcastle currently have five goalkeepers, but Mark Gillespie and John Ruddy will be out of contract this summer, Eddie Howe never wanted Odyssas Vlachodimos in the first place and Martin Dubravka would prefer to leave to be No 1 elsewhere, leaving just Nick Pope and no backup, so a move for Garcia and Trafford isn't unrealistic.