The brass at La Liga giants Barcelona are keeping a close eye on the situation of a star member of the first-team ranks at Catalan rivals Espanyol.
That’s according to Diario AS, who point towards Joan García as the player in question.
Spaniard Joan has for his part been arguably the standout shot-stopper in all of La Liga across the season to date.
Still just 24, Joan has long been hailed for his remarkable reflexes and spectacular save catalogue, enough to pique the attentions of some of European football’s leading clubs.
Last summer, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal expressed a keen interest in the Espanyol youth product’s signature.
The Gunners remain hot on the trail of the goalkeeper ahead of the upcoming transfer window, eager to bring Joan in to compete with current no.1 David Raya.
As alluded to above, though, the brass at The Emirates could yet be rivalled for the Espanyol man’s services by none other than Barcelona.
As per a report from Diario AS, amid an ongoing search for a long-term replacement for aging pair Marc-André ter Stegen and Wojciech Szczęsny:
‘Joan García, the object of desire of almost the entire footballing world – is also liked at Barcelona, a club that does not want to be outdone and where he is also viewed as a hypothetical future bet.’
Arsenal remain in the lead for Joan’s signature, but Barcelona are another club to keep an eye on heading into the summer window.
Conor Laird – GSFN
