Arsenal hope top target gets RELEGATED

Tom Weber

Updated: 29 Mar 2025 16:09 GMT
3 min read

Arsenal have been left hoping that top goalkeeper target Joan Garcia suffers relegation as it would result in a significant reduction to his release clause, according to Spanish media.

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The Gunners attempted to sign the Espanyol shot-stopper last summer but failed to strike a deal. Garcia is thought to have a release clause worth €25 million to €30m, but Arsenal were unwilling to pay that much.

Garcia would have initially come in as an understudy to No.1 David Raya following the departure of Aaron Ramsdale. Ultimately, however, Arsenal had to resort to loaning 35-year-old Bournemouth goalkeeper Neto.

The North London giants never lost sight of Garcia - and how could they? The 23-year-old has been stealing the show in LaLiga after helping Espanyol get promoted last season.

Espanyol have already conceded that they will likely have to sell Garcia to balance the books this summer and they will be open to negotiating a price that is lower than his release clause.

Arsenal to get relegation discount?

Cruelly for the Barcelona-based side, Garcia's suitors will be hoping that they drop back down to LaLiga2 this season. AS reports that the goalkeeper's release clause will fall to just €15m if Espanyol end up getting relegated - a fee they would otherwise be reluctant to accept.

They currently sit just a couple of points clear of the relegation zone, so survival is far from guaranteed at this stage. Considering that Arsenal are plotting a potentially record-breaking summer window, they will take any discount they can get so as to not fall foul of financial regulations.

It is claimed that there is another interesting detail in Garcia's contract. Should he get called up to the Spanish national team, his release clause will rise by €5m regardless of whether Espanyol are in the top flight or the second division.

The Spanish outlet states that a host of clubs are ready to rival Arsenal for Garcia. The likes of Man Utd, Real Madrid and PSG are all credited with an interest in the Olympic gold medalist.