Atlético de Madrid had marked Joan García's name in red as a possible replacement for Jan Oblak, but it seems that the Espanyol goalkeeper could leave Spain. According to Cadena SER, Arsenal is in pole position to sign the young goalkeeper, which is a major setback for the colchonero team.
Joan García, the Jewel Everyone Wants
At 23 years old, Joan García has become one of the most promising goalkeepers in Spanish soccer. His great season with Espanyol has sparked the interest of several European giants, including Barcelona, Arsenal, and Atlético de Madrid.
The Catalan team had him on their radar, but the continuity of Ter Stegen and the possible arrival of Szczęsny have reduced the chances of signing him. Atlético, on the other hand, saw him as the ideal replacement for Oblak, whose future remains uncertain. However, Arsenal has been the most determined club in their pursuit of the goalkeeper.
Arsenal Leads for Joan García
According to Cadena SER, Arsenal has been negotiating for Joan García for months and last summer already offered 25M, although Espanyol rejected the proposal. Now, with a 30M clause, the 'Gunners' seem willing to close the deal.
The big question is whether Joan García will accept coming to London to be David Raya's backup. Sources close to the club assure that Mikel Arteta wouldn't make such a significant investment without guaranteeing him an important role in the team.
Atlético de Madrid, Without Their Replacement for Oblak
Atlético de Madrid, according to Rubén Uría, considers Joan García as an ideal option to strengthen their goalkeeping. Jan Oblak is getting older, and despite his level still being very high, the club wants to secure the future of the colchonero goalkeeping.
However, Arsenal's offensive could leave the colchoneros without their main alternative. Now, the rojiblanco club will have to look for other options to strengthen a key position or push to acquire the Espanyol goalkeeper. With the summer market getting closer, everything indicates that Joan García's future may be far from Atlético and increasingly closer to the Premier League.