ARSENAL boss Mikel Arteta is keeping tabs on young defender Eric Garcia’s situation at his former club Manchester City.
The Spanish international turned down a new contract at the Etihad in the summer because he wants to return to Barcelona.
Arsenal are chasing a deal for Man City contract rebel and Barcelona target Eric GarciaCredit: AP:Associated Press
However the Nou Camp giants have little spare cash to play with after being floored by the Coronavirus pandemic.
They failed to raise the £13.5 million needed to sign Garcia in the summer window and may struggle to do so again in January.
Barca know he will be a free agent in the summer and they will be able to sign him back for nothing.
But that could open the door to other clubs – with Real Madrid already linked – and Arteta is also a fan of the 19-year-old.
The pair worked closely together while the Gunners boss was an assistant to Pep Guardiola at City for three-and-a-half years.
But Arteta may also have to wait until the summer as he currently has a surplus of centre backs on the books at the Emirates.
Some of them are out of contract in the summer including David Luiz, Sokratis and Shkodran Mustafi – so there should be room on the wage bill then.
Guardiola said earlier this season he had not given up hope of persuading Garcia to sign a new deal at the Etihad.
However he has made only six appearances so far this season.
And Garcia wants to be playing regularly to ensure he earns a place in the Spain squad at the Euros next summer.
The young defender remains keen on a return to Barcelona but has been left frustrated by their failure to close a deal.
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Dundalk boss Filippo Giovagnoli speaking to Arsenal Fan TV about Mikel Arteta
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
