Arsenal ready to do another transfer business with BARCELONA before DEADLINE DAY as DEFENDER agrees personal terms, following TIERNEY record £45m transfer
Arsenal are reportedly unlikely to sign Barcelona star Eric Garcia . The Gunners are on the lookout for a replacement for the injured Jurrien Timber, who is expected to be sidelined for at least 7 months after undergoing surgery on his ACL and have identified Garcia as a potential option.
However, according to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, Barca boss Xavi has no intention of letting the Spaniard leave this summer. It is understood that the Gunners were eyeing up a loan deal for Garcia but Mundo Deportivo claim Barcelona find it “difficult to accept” such an offer so close to the end of the transfer window.
The report goes on to add that the Catalonians are open to the possibility of a permanent move if a suitable proposal is made but it appears Arsenal only view Garcia as a short-term solution. Another option to step in for the Dutchman is Torino centre-back Perr Schuurs.
Reports in Italy claim the Gunners are set to compete with their Premier League rivals Liverpool and Tottenham for the 23-year-old’s signature. The defender is keen to leave with interest from the Premier League trio, but the Italian outfit want £34.3m for their star player.
Benjamin Pavard of Bayern Munich has also been floated around as a potential option but again his parent club would prefer a permanent transfer – although their £26m asking price would be a far more appealing proposition. The loss of Timber has put a massive dent in Arteta’s plans this season and the Spaniard admits it has left him and sporting director Edu scrambling for a replacement as transfer deadline day looms.
“We didn’t plan for this injury, so we have to assess now what the options are and the best way to get the best out of the players that we have.
“My biggest challenge now is to get the best out of the players we have, I cannot control anything that is not here. We are always open and we have to be open to react if something happens, not only with an injury but the market as well, and that is what we are doing.”
