FC Barcelona are ready for one final push to secure the services of Manchester City’s Eric Garcia, who has agreed personal terms with the Catalans.
According to Fabrizio Romano, FC Barcelona are plotting their final attempt to sign Eric Garcia. The Catalans are growing desperate to sign a new centre-back before the transfer window slams shut on Monday.
Garcia has been a target for Barcelona throughout this summer, with the ex-La Masia graduate also reportedly having signed personal terms with the club. However, Manchester City have so far appeared reluctant in offloading the player even though his contract expires at the end of the ongoing campaign.
As a result, Barca are ready to make one final push to sign Garcia this summer, with a nominal fee, failing which, they are expected to secure his services on a free transfer next season.
Manchester City, on the other hand, are well aware of their defender’s wish to rejoin his former club. And their stance on the entire transfer saga could soon change, especially following the arrival of Ruben Dias.
Eric Garcia has made the most successful tackles, most interceptions, most forward passes and the joint most clearances in that first half amongst City players.#MCFC | #MCILEI | #ManCity pic.twitter.com/gtAn2igwR9
— Man City Report (@cityreport_) September 27, 2020
The Portuguese centre-back was signed from SL Benfica on a big-money transfer this week. He should add some much-needed depth in Pep Guardiola’s defensive unit, alongside the likes of Nathan Ake, Aymeric Laporte and John Stones, thus nullifying the need of having to hold onto the services of Garcia.
As for Barcelona, they have struggled to find a central defender in the market despite facing a host of criticism following their 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich last season. Ronald Koeman’s men have still appeared overreliant on the services of Gerard Pique and Clement Lenglet, who was sent off in the midweek clash against Celta Vigo.
The Frenchman’s absence means Koeman has only one option in the experienced Ronald Araujo, which clearly doesn’t bode well for FC Barcelona, especially considering the hectic schedule of the 2020/21 campaign.
On top of that, the Blaugrana are actively seeking to get rid of Jean-Clair Todibo, who has been linked with a move to Fulham. His departure could further create a void in the central defensive unit, thus accentuating the need of someone like Garcia this summer.
The Manchester City youngster is quite familiar with the Barcelona ethos, having been a member of La Masia academy before eventually moving to England in 2016. He could provide some much-needed depth in the defensive unit and could even emerge as a potential long-term replacement for the ageing Pique.