Arsenal and Tottenham will reportedly compete with Real Madrid to sign 23-year-old Spaniard Joan Garcia from Espanyol in the summer transfer window.
According to a report by Spanish outlet AS, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing Joan Garcia from Espanyol in the summer transfer window. The 23-year-old goalkeeper is also a target for Real Madrid, with his contract with the Catalan outfit having a release clause worth €25 million.
The rise of Joan Garcia
Joan Garcia has emerged as one of the best young goalkeepers in Spain after a solid campaign with RCD Espanyol. The Spaniard was not the undisputed first-choice shot-stopper for the Catalan outfit but produced many impressive performances between the sticks.
The 23-year-old conceded only ten goals in 21 appearances across all competitions while keeping 12 clean sheets. Meanwhile, Garcia’s progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several high-profile clubs across Europe, including Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, and Real Madrid.
A man in demand
Real Madrid became the first club to show interest in Garcia a few weeks ago. The Merengues are in a spot of bother over the long-term future of Andriy Lunin, who might depart from the Santiago Bernabeu in the summer transfer window to become a first-choice goalkeeper elsewhere. The RCD Espanyol goalkeeper has thus emerged as a viable target for Real Madrid.
As for Tottenham, the North London giants want a long-term option to compete with Guglielmo Vicario for the first-choice goalkeeper’s berth. Fraser Forster is in the twilight of his career and approaching the end of his career. So, it behoves Tottenham to invest in a goalkeeper, although paying €25 million to sign a backup does not make sense.
That also holds true for Arsenal, considering Joan Garcia will be David Raya’s deputy if he moves to the Emirates. The Gunners are scouring the market for a goalkeeper heading into the summer transfer window amid uncertainties surrounding the long-term future of Aaron Ramsdale. So, Garcia is a viable target for Arsenal.
However, the Spaniard’s release clause of €25 million might pose a problem for his suitors. It will be interesting to see if Arsenal, Tottenham, and Real Madrid are ready to cough up the required sum to secure Joan Garcia’s services in the summer transfer window.
