Barcelona defender not interested in Arsenal switch despite Mikel Arteta eagerness to reunite

Jason Soutar
Reported Arsenal target Eric Garcia during a warm-up

According to reports in Spain, former Manchester City centre-half Eric Garcia is not interested in leaving Barcelona despite interest from Arsenal.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta is eager to bring in defensive reinforcements due to the lack of depth behind William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes.

Benjamin White has been operating as a right-back this term and could shift into the middle if Arteta is forced to play him there, with Takehiro Tomiyasu and Cedric Soares waiting in the wings.

However, besides White, Gabriel and Saliba, the Spanish manager’s only other centre-half option is Rob Holding.

Arsenal are reportedly interested in signing Eintracht Frankfurt’s Evan Ndicka when his contract expires at the end of the season.

As a left-footed player, Ndicka can provide competition for Gabriel and would be a very good signing if he is brought in on a free transfer.

Looking at Manchester City and Liverpool – who have both been competing at the top of the Premier League for the last five years – it is necessary for title challengers to have lots of defensive options.

City have Nathan Ake, John Stones, Aymeric Laporte, and Ruben Dias, which is a superb amount of talent competing for a starting spot.

With that in mind, it has been claimed by Fichajes that Arsenal want to sign Eric Garcia – who is currently out of favour at Barcelona.

Arteta worked with Garcia when they were both at City and is apparently a big fan of the player.

However, it has now been claimed by Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo that the young defender is not keen on a Barcelona exit.

The 22-year-old has only started eight La Liga and two Champions League games this term, with Xavi favouring Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen.

‘Teams have knocked on the door’ with Garcia struggling for game time. Arsenal are ‘among’ those sides to register an interest.

Arteta ‘sees him as an option’, but the player is not looking to leave Barca at this moment in time.

It is claimed that Garcia thinks he can become a regular starter at the Nou Camp if he ‘continues working in the same way’.

Arsenal are expected to be busy in this month’s transfer window with Mykhaylo Mudryk their top target.

Shakhtar Donetsk are playing hardball with the Gunners, trying to get an extortionate fee for the player, with the Premier League leaders already having two bids rejected.

Arteta may look to bolster his midfield as well. They were linked with Palmeiras youngster Danilo last summer.

Nottingham Forest have reportedly made an £18million bid to sign Danilo, but should Arsenal come in for him, you would expect the player to favour a move to north London.

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