Arsenal’s pursuit of Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia has hit a stumbling block, as the Spanish club’s manager, Manolo Gonzalez, expressed his desire to keep the talented shot-stopper. Despite reports suggesting that Garcia had agreed personal terms with Arsenal, Gonzalez stated in a recent press conference that he hopes Garcia will remain at Espanyol beyond the European transfer deadline.
Garcia, 23, has been identified as a potential replacement for Arsenal’s current goalkeeper, Aaron Ramsdale, who has fallen out of favor with manager Mikel Arteta. Ramsdale, who was Arteta’s first-choice goalkeeper just over a year ago, lost his place to David Raya and has been encouraged to leave the club by former players Emmanuel Petit and Emiliano Martinez. However, potential moves to Wolves and Southampton for Ramsdale have yet to materialize, leaving Arsenal with limited time to offload the 26-year-old.
With the uncertainty surrounding Ramsdale’s future, Arsenal turned their attention to Garcia as a potential backup goalkeeper. Rumors circulated that Arsenal had already agreed personal terms with the Spaniard and were on the verge of signing him. However, Gonzalez’s comments suggest that Espanyol are reluctant to let Garcia leave unless a suitable offer is made.
Garcia’s performances have caught the attention of several clubs, with Liverpool also linked to the young goalkeeper earlier in the summer. However, Liverpool has since shifted their focus to securing the services of Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia. Despite the speculation surrounding his future, Garcia remains calm and focused on his current club, expressing his happiness at Espanyol.
It remains to be seen whether Arsenal will be able to secure the signing of Garcia before the transfer deadline. With Espanyol’s manager hoping to retain the goalkeeper, Arsenal may need to act swiftly if they are to add him to their squad. As the deadline approaches, the pressure is on Arsenal to find a suitable replacement for Ramsdale and strengthen their goalkeeping options for the upcoming season.