In a recent report, Sport has revealed that Barcelona have launched their first offer for Manchester City defender Eric Garcia and are in pole position to secure his signature this summer. It is believed that the Catalans have tabled a bid of €8m plus €2m in add-ons for the Spanish centre-back ahead of a potential move during this summer transfer period (via Sport).
Garcia’s Rapid Emergence In English Football
Garcia encountered a solid breakout season at the Etihad Stadium in the last term as he put in several impressive performances as a key component of Pep Guardiola’s defence. The Barcelona-born defensive ace appeared in 20 matches for Man City in the previous campaign, picking up one assist and one yellow card in various competitions.
The 19-year-old proved that he is good enough to fill in as a squad player under Guardiola’s stewardship and did well to average 0.5 tackles, 1.4 interceptions and 2.4 clearances per 90 minutes in the Premier League last season. He even managed to distribute the ball with accuracy after completing 93.1% of his attempted passes in top-flight football (stats via whoscored).
The talented centre-half has got less than a year left to run in his Man City contract, so Guardiola would have no choice but to cash in on him this summer or else risk losing him for free at the end of next season. Plus, a return to the Nou Camp might be too tempting for Garcia to turn down in this off-season.
What Will The Spanish Prospect Bring To The Table?
Garcia has shown a lot of hunger to win possession back for his side in the 2019-20 Premier League campaign. He is usually quite good with his positioning inside his half that allows him to make a few vital clearances for his team. The Spaniard is often quick to read the danger and can use his strength to win some important 50-50 aerial duels at the back. As mentioned earlier, he is also a tidy passer of the ball, which makes him a good fit at the Nou Camp.
Is Garcia The Right Fit For Barcelona This Summer?
There is no doubt that Garcia will add more depth to the Barca squad and won’t take much time settling into life at Catalonia as he already knows his hometown club from inside out. The Man City whizkid could provide some healthy competition for the likes of Gerard Pique, Clement Lenglet and Jean-Clair Todibo in the race to earn a starting spot in Ronald Koeman’s first XI next season.
At 19, Garcia still has plenty of time to transform himself into a world-class defender. However, Koeman will have to figure out a way to get the best out of the Spaniard in the coming seasons if Barca can get the deal over the line for him this summer.
