Arsenal must act quickly to sign priority goalkeeper transfer target

If Arsenal are to sign goalkeeper Joan Garcia this summer, they must act quickly before competitors for the Spaniard's signature swoop.

The Gunners have plenty of work to do ahead of the 2025/26 season off the back of a fifth successive campaign without silverware. Transfer priorities lie in attacking areas and the middle of the park, but the expiry of Neto's loan means David Raya, who looks set to reclaim his Premier League Golden Glove award, needs a new backup.

Edu Gaspar turned to Brazilian veteran Neto after Aaron Ramsdale joined Southampton late on in the window, but the Bournemouth shot-stopper has appeared just once for the club during his loan spell. It was a panicked, short-term solution which, thankfully, didn't cost Arsenal as a result of Raya staying healthy.

Now, the Gunners must seek a more stable, long-term solution behind their impressive number one.

Arsenal must swoop for Joan Garcia soon with competitors lurking

Arsenal wanted to sign the inexperienced Garcia last summer but declined after Espanyol refused to sell for anything lower than the goalkeeper's €25m release clause.

Garcia has since enjoyed a full La Liga season as the club's number one following their promotion last year, and ranks among the best performing shot-stoppers in the division this term. He's a big reason why the Catalonian club are staying up.

According to The Athletic, Garcia's release clause remains €25m, but that sum will rise to €30m if he's called up to the Spanish national team in June or he's still at Espanyol with 15 days of the summer transfer window remaining. Thus, if Arsenal still want to sign Garcia, they better move fast to pay a lower fee.

Moreover, Garcia's impressive season wouldn't have gone unnoticed. In Spain, there have been murmurs of Real Madrid taking an interest, while Barcelona's goalkeeper situation is in flux. Inaki Pena is set to leave, and Wojciech Szczesny is yet to commit to the club after coming out of retirement to fill in for the injured Marc-Andre ter Stegen. It's feasible that La Liga's two behemoths opt to swoop for a goalkeeper they're both familiar with.

However, new sporting director Andrea Berta, given Arsenal's transfer priorities elsewhere, may be hesistant to pay such a large sum (€25m) for a backup goalkeeper. While Garcia has the potential to be special and is already great, Raya won't be relinquishing his place anytime soon. He's improved in his second year.

Potential alternatives are not yet known, but Espanyol's stubbornness may force them to identify a couple.

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