- 2 hours ago
Arsenal handed MAJOR boost in transfer pursuit of Arteta favourite
Suraj Radia
- Updated: 20 Feb 2025 20:13 GMT
- 3 min read
Arsenal have been encouraged in their long-term pursuit for one of Mikel Arteta’s top transfer targets whom he failed to sign last summer.
The Gunners had been in the market for a long-term replacement for Aaron Ramsdale, who left to join Southampton, however Neto was eventually signed on loan despite not being Arteta’s ideal choice in backup goalkeeper.
The Arsenal manager had hoped to sign Joan Garcia but the reported €20 million offer fell short of Espanyol’s valuation, who wanted closer to his €30m release clause due to the proximity to the end of the transfer window.
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However, Espanyol director Fran Garagaza admitted that Garcia could be sold for below his release clause earlier in the window as the club cannot afford to be picky with big offers.
“Clause or nothing? No. In the summer market, with the call from Arsenal in the last week, that is where it has to be,” he told Mundo Deportivo.
“But if you get an offer on June 14 that is not the clause but is close to it in terms of fixed and variable amounts, Espanyol is not going to say no. They cannot say no. If a club comes with €8m for Joan Garcia, that is a bad sale, 100%.”
Arsenal likely to make summer approach for Garcia
Garcia has established himself as one of the standout keepers in La Liga this season after becoming Espanyol’s number one, with no other shotstopper making more saves than the 23-year-old so far this year (89.)
The Spaniard’s form has seen him watched by national team manager Luis de la Fuente, having won the Olympic gold medal with his country last summer.
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Current ETV
Joan García
GK
Espanyol
Joan García
GK
Espanyol
ETV Range
€11.9M - €14.6M
Garcia still has three years remaining on his contract and his release clause is understood to be €25m before rising to €30m in the last two weeks of the window.
Espanyol are aware that they will have to cash in on their star keeper soon and Arsenal are likely to return with a bid when Neto’s loan expires in the summer.
