Mikel Arteta still sees the 23-year-old as a key figure for his plans at the Emirates, and the Gunners are expected to monitor Garcia’s progress closely as the January window approaches.
This summer, Arsenal made an offer of €20 million for Garcia before following it up with an even larger one on deadline day, but Espanyol were adamant that they would not consider anything below the €30 million release clause.
The club was keenly aware of Garcia’s value and importance, particularly given his impact on their return to La Liga. The Spaniard played a decisive role last season, stepping in for Fernando Pacheco midway through the campaign and solidifying his position as the first-choice goalkeeper under coach Manolo González.
This season, Garcia has continued to impress, starting in all 11 La Liga matches for Espanyol, who have conceded 19 goals thus far.
Garcia’s performances have not gone unnoticed by top clubs, especially Arsenal. He has shown a strong command in goal, often making crucial saves as Espanyol’s defence tends to allow rivals too much space.
Arsenal’s pursuit of Garcia was among the more intense transfer sagas of the last window, driven in part by their need for a young, reliable replacement following Aaron Ramsdale’s move to Southampton.
Arsenal ultimately settled for Neto on loan from Bournemouth as a short-term solution, but the 35-year-old is not considered a long-term answer for the club’s goalkeeping requirements.
Espanyol, wary of losing Garcia in January, plan to increase his release clause from €25 million to €30 million from 16 January. This move coincides with the final days of the winter transfer window, making it more difficult for interested clubs to strike a deal without giving Espanyol ample time or cash to find a replacement.
