Berta is about to miss out on one playerBerta is about to miss out on one player
Berta is about to miss out on one player | Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Arsenal are getting close to missing out on one of their long term targets.
Arsenal need to act quickly if they want to avoid missing out on one of their long-term targets. The Gunners have plenty of work to do this summer, with Andrea Berta facing a mammoth first summer window in charge of recruitment.
The season just gone proved to be a hugely disappointing one for Arsenal, who fell well short of their Premier League title ambitions. Next season must be different if Mikel Arteta wants to keep a firm grip on his job, with the club likely to want to see a return on their sizable investments over recent years.
A number of positions need strengthening this summer, with Arsenal needing a striker and a winger, while there is a serious need for depth in a number of other positions, including midfield, centre-back and goalkeeper. In the goalkeeper position, the Gunners have a clear number one in David Raya, but they have no real back-up keeper, with Neto headed back to AFC Bournemouth after his loan spell.
The Gunners have wanted serious competition for Raya since Aaron Ramsdale’s departure, but they have not been able to procure it. Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia was the target last summer, but the Spaniard decided to stay with Espanyol after their promotion to La Liga.
That proved to be a wise choice for Garcia, who not only helped Espanyol survive in their first season back in the top flight, but he was one of the best performers between the sticks across Spain. Even FC Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny acknowledged: “I want to congratulate Joan García. I think he’s been the best goalkeeper in La Liga this season. He has a very bright future ahead of him.”
What Szczesny didn’t know was that Garcia could become his teammate, with Fabrizio Romano now reporting that the Catalan giants are closing in on a deal for the goalkeeper. He tweeted: “Barcelona are advancing on all formal steps for Joan García deal with the player’s agents and Espanyol. Not a done deal yet, it might take some time to seal all details… but progressing well between all parties. Work in progress, as per @rac1 and @JijantesFC.”
Arsenal need to move quickly if they want to avoid missing out on one of their long term targets, and it may already be too late. Garcia actually spoke last week about his future, refusing to rule out a move this summer, which should come as no surprise given he already rejected a move last summer.
Garcia told Tot Gira: "At the end of the day, in football, news is coming out all the time, things are coming out. Until things become a reality, it's not always the truth. But anyway, as I'm telling you, I'm very calm. Whatever needs to be decided, I'll definitely think about it a lot with my people and choose what will be best for me. I'm sure it will be like that."
The 24-year-old now appears to be headed to Camp Nou where he will battle Marc-Andre Ter Stegen for the number one spot, while Szczesny’s future will be unclear if the move goes through.
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