According to a report by Football Transfers, Premier League club Chelsea are interested in signing Barcelona defender Eric Garcia as they look for reinforcement in their backline. Notably, the Spanish side rate the player at €25 million.
Eric Garcia is still valuable
Eric Garcia started his professional career at La Masia but moved to Manchester City in search of game-time. After a spell, he was brought back by Barcelona in the summer of 2021. While he showed some spark, his reputation has taken a hit in recent times.
Garcia is not a first-choice centre-back for Hansi Flick’s side. Though he has featured in 12 games so far and has one assist to his name. He is averaging 1 tackle, 0.4 interceptions, and 0.9 clearances per game (stats via whoscored).
The Spanish defender primarily plays as a centre-back but can also be deployed as a defensive midfielder. He has got good control over the ball and accurate passing skills. He maintains good positioning while also doing decently well in aerial battles despite not having an ideal height.
Can Eric Garcia do well for Chelsea?
Chelsea’s interest in Eric Garcia is understandable as they need to replace players like Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile. Both the latter defenders have been performing below par and might leave Stamford Bridge next summer.
With the acquisition of Garcia, the Blues can fill the shoes and maintain a formidable backline. As the defender has prior Premier League experience, he will need less time to adapt. He can be a long-term solution to the defensive woes.
Chelsea will have to splash out around €25 million to acquire the services of the 23-year-old. While the amount seems a bit high, the player has certainly got the ability to justify the price tag in the years to come. Apart from the Blues, Newcastle United are also keeping tabs on the player.
