‘The look on his face’: Joan Garcia gutted after Arsenal bid rejected

Espanyol sporting director, Fran Garagarza, has revealed Joan Garcia was gutted when Arsenal’s bid was rejected last summer, and sends a message to suitors ahead of the window.

While David Raya won successive Premier League ‘Golden Glove’ awards, being the first in the club’s history, Arsenal are reportedly still keen to sign a challenger for the number one position.

While Mikel Arteta tried to host competing goalkeepers last season, with David Raya and Aaron Ramsdale initially fighting for a place in the starting lineup, the Spaniard prevailed, and ended up started every league game he was eligible for.

With Ramsdale departing to now-relegated Southampton at the start of last campaign, Arsenal were keen to replace the England international with Espanyol star, Garcia.

However, the dealings were left too late, and Espanyol rejected a €20M initial bid for the goalkeeper, on the basis that finding a replacement would be too difficult with the time available.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Espanyol sporting director, Garagarza, recalled the goalkeeper’s reaction to the deal failing: “It was with La Liga just underway and three days away from the deadline. The look on his face during that conversation almost made me feel sorry for him; I saw him as if he were my son. He was told the time would come, and it will.”

Instead, the Gunners landed Bournemouth keeper, Norberto Neto, on a loan deal, but while he returns to his parent club this summer, Arsenal are keen to try and sign Garcia for a second summer.

However, the 24 year-old divides opinion at the club, as while Arteta is a fan of his fellow Spaniard, new sporting director, Andrea Berta, believes funds could be better allocated elsewhere.

While Mikel Arteta hinted that the club’s recruitment meeting is scheduled to take place today, Arsenal must decide their stance on Garcia, with numerous clubs interested, and Barcelona accelerating a deal.

Sending a message to potential suitors, Garagarza explained: “There are certain amounts that teams interested in him have to accept, and that’s going to have to be the case given his level. There will be many clubs considering doing so. This is going to take a long time.”

“It’s going to be the clause. But the argument is very simple: the player’s value. The player is worth it. If he had a higher clause, he’d also have that value. If we look at the transfers that have taken place with goalkeepers of our level, they’ve paid that much and more. We don’t have to consider things other than that. It’s not asking for more than he’s worth, but the opposite. For me, the kid has exceptional value.”

While the Gunners will look at the goalkeeper department, a huge summer is expected around the pitch, with a striker, such as Viktor Gyökeres, and a winger also being targeted in North London.