Newcastle United target Joan Garcia has finally commented on his future.
After securing Champions League qualification, Eddie Howe is now ready to make the most of their hefty transfer budget to bring some fresh faces to the club.
Newcastle United will spend on their top transfer targets this summer after failing to make any noteworthy signings for the first time since 2023. The Magpies are in a great position financially and will make the most of their recent sucess.
One name linked with a move to Newcastle is Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia. The 24-year-old helped the La Liga side avoid relegation this season, but could now move on to bigger clubs.
Newcastle must pay £21m for Garcia and fend off interest from Spanish giants Barcelona. Howe is pleased with his goalkeeping options as it stands, but reports have claimed he is looking to bring a new shot-stopper in with the futures of John Ruddy, Mark Gillespie and Odysseas Vlachodimos still unknown.
With so much speculation around his future, Garcia has now commented on the transfer links.
Photo by Gongora/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photo by Gongora/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Joan Garcia opens up about Newcastle United transfer links
Signing Garcia would almost certainly mean that Newcastle would end their pursuit of Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford.
Newcastle have tracked Trafford for over a year and were even close to securing his signature in 2024 before the deal collapsed due to PSR concerns.
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Now, speaking to Mundo Deportivo, Garcia has opened up on his future at Espanyol, but has given little away regarding an exit.
“I’m very calm, to be honest. It’s true that a lot of things are coming up, from a lot of teams, but for now I’m very calm.” he said.
“We’ve just finished the season and I want to rest a little and be with my people. From there, I’ll decide what’s best for me. These are things that don’t depend on me. For now, I’m an Espanyol player. If the club receives an offer that seems good to them, and that seems good to me too, then we’ll talk about it. I don’t have a date to decide,”
“There are many things; it doesn’t just depend on me; it depends on many factors. It’s not a decision that’s solely mine. I’m calm and I’ll talk to the people who need to discuss all the options and then I’ll decide.”
Garcia made an impressive 145 saves in La Liga this season, more than any other goalkeeper.
Joan Garcia’s demand to Newcastle United
At £21m, Newcastle would definitely be signing a player with real quality for an affordable price tag.
However, Howe must adhere to Garcia’s demands if he wants him to make the move to Tyneside.
Reports earlier this week claimed Garcia wants to be the number one at Newcastle after a successful season with Espanyol. The Spaniard played every league game this season, so he has already proven that he can play in one of Europe’s top leagues.
However, Garcia has no experience playing in any of the UEFA competitions. Howe could favour Pope in the Champions League next season due to Garcia’s lack of experience.
As Newcastle look for a long-term option between the sticks, Garcia still looks undecided about his future.