Barcelona aim to sign £30m Man City star before deadline

Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman hopes to sign Man City defender Eric Garcia before the window shuts on Monday.

The 19-year-old broke into the Man City team during the 2019/20 season. Garcia made 20 appearances for the club in all competitions last year.

The defender did not play in City’s opening game of the season against Wolves. But he has featured in each of their next two games so far this campaign.

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His form for City helped him earn his first cap for Spain’s senior team in September 2020 against Ukraine.

Garcia came through Barcelona’s academy, but he signed for Man City in 2017. He has long been rumoured with returning to the Spanish giants.

He is entering the final year of his contract, and City appears willing to let him go with Garcia’s heart set on a return to his former club.

City have been trying to persuade him to sign a new deal, but they now wish to cash in on him so they do not lose him for free next summer.

A report from Manchester Evening News suggests that City would want around £20m plus an extra £10m in add-ons for Garcia this summer.

Barcelona boss Koeman has now given his take on the Spaniard’s situation. The former Everton and Holland boss told Goal that they aim to complete a deal for Garcia before Monday’s transfer deadline:

“It’s true we want Eric Garcia here. I’ve seen Pep’s comments and that’s how it is.

“I hope we get it done but we know the situation is tough financially. There’s interest, but I don’t know if we will get it over the line.”