Joan Garcia could move to the Premier League rather than join Barcelona, as Arsenal and Manchester United are among his suitors.
According to Sport via Sport Witness, Espanyol’s reluctance to negotiate with Barcelona for their keeper Joan Garcia could see the Spaniard move to the Premier League instead. Clubs like Arsenal and Manchester United are keen to bring the goalkeeper to England, as his team wants to get good value from his sale.
Arsenal made a late move for Joan Garcia after Espanyol rejected their bid, which was worth a reported €20 million, including bonuses. The Gunners also made a late decision to sell Aaron Ramsdale, viewing the Spanish keeper as the ideal replacement for the England international.
The Gunners have retained an interest, as they will re-enter the market for a new goalkeeper at the conclusion of the current season. A verbal agreement with Garcia will not be a problem for Arsenal, who have been talking to his camp for over a year now.
While Arsenal are expected to win the race, they are not alone in the chase, as Manchester United are also considering the Spaniard as an option. Manchester City have held initial talks to sign Garcia, although their chase might be a bit complicated as the Espanyol man is not their primary target to replace Brazilian stopper Ederson Moraes, with Diogo Costa considered the priority option.
Manchester United are expected to make their presence felt as Ruben Amorim could look for another player to compete with Andre Onana. The Cameroonian has been leaking goals this season and since joining the club in the summer of 2023, and the manager feels the need to add there.
Is Joan Garcia destined for the Premier League?
The Premier League clubs are not alone in the race, as Barcelona were interested last summer. Espanyol were then insistent on clubs paying the full release clause in the region of €30 million, and they have not changed their stance. Moreover, the Catalan side are reluctant to negotiate with Barcelona due to their local rivalry, as they are eager for Premier League interest to develop.
Espanyol are reportedly open to negotiating terms with Premier League sides for the stopper. With competition for Garcia reaching intense levels, it does increase their chances of fetching a higher price for the €30m-rated Olympic gold medalist ahead of the summer.
