Arteta assistant is personally pushing Arsenal to sign £21m target, and not for the first time

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Arsenal are in the market for a goalkeeper as Aaron Ramsdale is expected to depart, and he will need replacing.

The England International lost his Arsenal starting spot to David Raya, and Ramsdale is now set to depart in search of first-team football this summer.

Raya joined on an initial loan from Brentford last year, and this move will now be made permanent. However, he will still need a number two behind him.

Arsenal have been linked with Espanyol goalkeeping prospect Joan Garcia, and it now appears that one of Mikel Arteta’s backroom staff is driving this interest.

Inaki Cana pushing Arsenal move for Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia

It has now been reported by Spanish outlet Relevo that Arsenal’s interest in Garcia is being driven by Arsenal goalkeeping coach Inaki Cana.

“Arsenal goalkeeper coach Inaki Cana is a big fan of Joan and firmly believes in his quality as an elite goalkeeper. Cana knows him very closely because of his experience as a goalkeeper coach in Catalonia,” the report revealed.

Garcia’s release clause is set at around £21m, and it remains to be seen whether Espanyol would accept a lower bid, especially given that there is also interest in him from Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.

Inaki Cana has had influence on other Arsenal transfer deals

Arsenal fans may be concerned that Cana is being allowed to influence a transfer when it comes to Arsenal’s goalkeeping roster.

Cana recommended Runar Alex Runarsson to Arteta in 2020, but the Iceland International was a complete disaster in his limited appearances after joining from Sporting Dijon in France.

The coach did redeem himself though, as Raya joined having previously worked with him at Brentford, and the Spaniard has gone from strength to strength at Arsenal.

If Garcia joins, he will arrive as a talented but inexperienced option to cover for Raya, but also as a goalkeeper who helped Espanyol gain promotion to La Liga in recent weeks.

Arteta, Edu Gaspar and Arsenal scouts will have done their due diligence on Garcia, but Cana’s recommendation comes from his connection to the region, having grown up in Barcelona and played in their academy, and he may be trusted to recommend a potential long-term option in the position.