Arsenal have less than three days left of the transfer window to secure their main targets, and there is still work to be done.
There may be a lot of movement in the goalkeeping department, with Aaron Ramsdale currently in talks with Southampton, whilst Mikel Arteta is also interested in Wigan’s Sam Tickle as a third-choice option.
If Ramsdale does leave, Spanish goalkeeper Joan Garcia has agreed personal terms with Arsenal. The 23-year-old helped Espanyol earn promotion back to La Liga last season, is a perfect fit stylistically as a backup to David Raya.
Arsenal do face a problem though, as Espanyol are eager to keep hold of Garcia, and are set to hold out for his release clause, which stands at over £25m.
Espanyol manager Manolo Gonzalez has now given an update on Garcia’s future, and praised his goalkeeper.
Espanyol manager Manolo Gonzalez wants to keep Arsenal target Joan Garcia
Speaking in a press conference, Gonzalez praised Garcia, and indicated that unless Arsenal were to take matters out of the club’s control by paying his release clause, he will stay at the club.
“He is a very good goalkeeper, I am calm when he plays,” Gonzalez stated of Garcia.
“I don’t know about the transfer market, although I hope he doesn’t leave.
“What the club tells me is that he should not leave unless a club comes and nothing can be done.
“He is a great goalkeeper, but the level of the goalkeepers I have is very high.”
Arsenal should move on from Joan Garcia if deal cannot be negotiated
Despite Garcia’s talent, the reality for him is that he will spend most of the season playing a backup role to Raya, and like Ramsdale, he may not see the pitch much.
This means that spending a hefty fee on Garcia would be a poor move. Other backup goalkeepers can be sought out for a lower price, and if Garcia joins for a big fee, then there may be similar issues as Raya and Ramsdale faced when both were competing for a place in the team.
If Espanyol do not budge over their stance, then Arsenal must simply move on from him and find another target before the transfer deadline.
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