4 months ago
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Arsenal are eyeing up a move for Spanish goalkeeper Joan Garcia to provide competition for David Raya next season.
The Gunners are on the verge of turning Raya’s loan move from Brentford into a permanent deal at a cost of £27 million.
With Raya’s long-term future resolved, Arsenal will turn their attention to sorting Aaron Ramsdale’s situation and signing his replacement.
The England international is unlikely to be content with playing second fiddle to Raya again next term having been demoted just four games into last season.
Newcastle had shown interest in signing the 26-year-old at the start of the summer but have been put off by Arsenal’s valuation.
Despite Ramsdale remaining in a state of limbo, the Gunners have already begun to identify potential replacements for a player who had exceeded expectations after joining from Sheffield United in the summer of 2021.
According to The Athletic, Garcia has emerged as a potential option to fill the No.2 role behind his compatriot.
The 23-year-old made 14 appearances last season for Espanyol and is reported to have a £21m release clause in his contract.
Garcia is due to represent Spain at the upcoming Olympics and Arsenal believe he possesses many of the attributes required to thrive under Arteta.
The Gunners have also been linked with moves for a string of potential new keepers including Monza’s Michele Di Gregorio, Brighton’s Jason Steele and Feyenoord’s Justin Bijlow.
Intriguingly, Arteta is said to have registered an interest in his former Arsenal teammate Wojciech Szczesny.
The experienced Poland international fits the homegrown criteria Arsenal are seeking as a priority in any potential Ramsdale successor.
Szczesny has just one year remaining on his current Juventus contract and the Italian giants are likely to sell a goalkeeper this summer as they work on a deal to sign Michele Di Gregorio from Monza.
The 34-year-old, who made well over a 100 Premier League appearances for Arsenal earlier in his career, currently earns £100,000-a-week and those wages could prove prohibitive.
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