Koeman wants to sign Eric Garcia before transfer window closes

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 23 May 2023 08:45 CDT
• 1 min read

Ronald Koeman is desperate to sign Manchester City defender Eric Garcia before the January transfer window closes, according to potential Barcelona presidential candidate Victor Font.

Garcia’s contract at Man City expires at the end of the season and he is not expected to pen a renewal.

Barcelona have been in negotiations to re-sign their former academy graduate for months and he is expected to return to Camp Nou on a Bosman transfer this summer.

A January transfer for a nominal fee seems unlikely given Barcelona’s financial crisis, a fact that Koeman has acknowledged himself.

However, the Dutch manager has also bemoaned the problems he has had in defence in recent months with star centre-back Gerard Pique sidelined with a long-term knee injury.

“Koeman’s recent words demonstrate that lack of depth is an issue,” Font told Marca.

“One way of understanding him is that as far as possible, he wants to urgently incorporate Eric García now to strengthen the core of the team.”

Garcia was part of Barcelona’s youth academy from 2008 to 2017 before signing for Manchester City.

He is highly rated at the Etihad but has failed so far to establish himself as a regular first-team player.