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Arsenal transfer target Joan Garcia has hinted he is set to leave Espanyol this summer.
The 24-year-old has enhanced his reputation this season as one of Europe’s best young goalkeepers with a string of sensational displays.
Having helped his boyhood club preserve their La Liga status, Garcia now appears prepared to take the next step in his career.
The Spain Under-21 international is not short of suitors with Arsenal, Real Madrid and Barcelona all coveting him.
Mikel Arteta pushed for the Gunners to sign Garcia last summer but with Espanyol refusing to an accept an offer below their player’s £21million release clause, Arsenal instead signed Neto on loan from Bournemouth.
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The experienced Brazil international is unlikely to join on a permanent deal, however, and with youngsters Jack Porter and Tommy Setford not yet ready to be promoted to the role of No.2, Arsenal are again in the market for a new goalkeeper.
Garcia would be forced to fight it out with David Raya to be Arteta’s first choice were he to sign for Arsenal and may well have more attractive options.
Why do Arsenal want to sign Joan Garcia?
On the face of it, signing a new goalkeeper would appear to be way down the list of Arsenal’s transfer priorities this summer.
David Raya has, arguably, been Arsenal’s best player this season and has ended any lingering talk over whether Mikel Arteta was right to dispense with Aaron Ramsdale redundant.
The Spain international turns 30 in September and has many more years ahead of him at the top level and should be coming into his prime.
That said, it is hard to ignore the meteoric rise of Garcia who appears destined for greatness and boasts all the attributes required by a modern goalkeeper to play for one of the biggest clubs in the world.
If Arsenal, who have already put in a significant amount of group, let Garcia slip through their fingers he will undoubtedly join a rival club, either in the Premier League or in Spain.
Arteta has been fortunate that Raya has been a virtual ever-present this season especially as Neto’s only appearance, in a Champions League dead rubber, did little to inspire confidence.
The arrival of a potentially world-class goalkeeper could cause more issues than it solves, but Arteta will know a player of this quality only comes around once in a while.
Speaking about his future he told Relevo: ‘Everyone knows a little about the situation I’m in and the situation the club is in. Whatever happens, if I leave, I’ll be proud to leave the team still in La Liga.
‘I hope my family can continue coming to the stadium with a team in the top-flight and I hope that continues for many years.’
Aston Villa are also interested in Garcia as a potential replacement for Emiliano Martinez, who is likely to leave this summer.
The World Cup-winning goalkeeper had tears in his eyes as he waved at Villa’s supporters in their final home game of the season last Friday.
Atletico Madrid and Manchester United have both been linked with a move for the 32-year-old, who joined Villa in a £20m deal from Arsenal in September 2020.
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