Arsenal 'join the race to sign Eric Garcia on a free transfer this summer'

Published on: 27 January 2021

Arsenal have joined the race to sign Manchester City centre-back Eric Garcia, according to reports in Spain.

The 20-year-old has entered the final six months of his contract at the Etihad Stadium and City are open to allowing him to leave for a fee of around £4.4million.

Barcelona have been the heavy favourites with boss Ronald Koeman keen to bring in a central defender before the transfer window slams shut on Monday, but with the club's presidential elections having been delayed, any move from the Catalan club appears highly unlikely this month.

Now, according to Mundo Deportivo, the Gunners have joined the race to sign the Spain international on a free in the summer.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta worked in developing Garcia when he was Pep Guardiola's assistant at City before leaving them to become Gunners boss in December 2019, and is now keen to reunite with the defender.

The report adds that Garcia would fit into the Arsenal philosophy, as he would at PSG who have also been heavily linked with a move.

Reports last week suggested the Ligue 1 side were looking to hijack a move with Mauricio Pochettino keen on signing him having watched him grow in the Premier League when he was Tottenham boss.

The report also adds that the Argentine is very close with the Spain international's representative, Ivan de la Pena.

Garcia reportedly won't rule out any potential move, but is favouring a return to boyhood club Barcelona, where he came through the ranks between 2008 and 2017 before departing for England.

Barcelona announced a couple of weeks ago that their elections - originally scheduled for last weekend - would not go ahead because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, and signing players is not within the remit of caretaker president Carles Tusquets.

Source: m.allfootballapp.com

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