FC Barcelona Hope To Sign Manchester City’s Eric Garcia This Week, Claims Report

FC Barcelona hope to sign or at least advance negotiations regarding Manchester City defender Eric Garcia this week, according to a report.

Probed on his future shortly after the Premier League
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giants’ shock Champions League quarterfinal defeat to Lyon on Saturday evening, Garcia was tight-lipped to Spanish broadcaster Movistar.

“The only thing I can say is that now we will have some days of rest and then we will see. I cannot say anything else, least of all after this elimination,” stressed the 19-year-old.

As a native of the Catalan capital reared by the La Masia academy, Garcia is inextricably linked to the Blaugrana, who have repeatedly made inquiries as to his availability.

Aware that the youngster has refused to agree fresh terms in England, they are attempting to purchase him for something lower than City’s €23mn ($27.5mn) evaluation considering that he can be snapped up for free in just over 10 months’ time.

Yet as part of a vast revamp following their own, much worse humiliation on the continent at the hands of Bayern Munich, Barça do not wish to waste time and, according to SPORT on Wednesday morning, wish to advance negotiations for Garcia this week.

Head coach Quique Setien fired on Monday, an approach for Garcia will not be hampered by the arrival of expected successor Ronald Koeman, who is set to be announced in the coming days.

“I always say that when I have a 30-year-old player and a 22-year-old with the same performance, I play the 22-year-old because he’s the future,” the Dutchman remarked in a January 2019 interview, which could spell the exit door for veteran Gerard Pique as Garcia goes on to partner Clement Lenglet at the heart of the back line.

Nor will the departure of sporting director Eric Abidal announced yesterday either, as his former right-hand man Ramon Planes is “personally handling the case”.

President Josep Bartomeu listing Nelson Semedo in his band of non-transferable players, in an interview with Barça TV yesterday evening, it is believed that the Portuguese right back was included in such a group to keep alive hopes of a swap deal involving Semedo, Garcia and compatriot City star Joao Cancelo all switching allegiances.