Arsenal are reportedly getting closer to signing a new goalkeeper this summer, as a surprise target has emerged.
Aaron Ramsdale looks set to leave after losing his Arsenal spot at the start of last season. David Raya joined from Brentford, and after a shaky start, has established himself as Mikel Arteta’s first-choice option.
Ramsdale will need replacing if he departs, with the Englishman searching for first-team football. A sensational return for Wojciech Szczesny was mooted, but the Poland star is now set to move to Saudi Arabia.
It recently emerged that Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia is being targeted by Arsenal, with reports coming out of Spain suggesting that a deal is nearly done. The 23-year-old is also being targeted by Tottenham Hotspur.
It remains to be seen whether a deal goes through for Garcia, but it is easy to see why Arteta is keen on him despite his relative inexperience.
How Arsenal target Joan Garcia is similar to David Raya
Raya cemented his number one spot as a result of his outstanding ability in the air, and his aggressive positioning off his goalline.
The Arsenal star leads Europe’s top five leagues for his cross-claiming ability, with 13% of the crosses he has faced stopped per 90 minutes, but Garcia actually surpasses him in this sense.
Amongst Europe’s next 14 competitions, which includes top-flight and second-division leagues across the continent, Garcia is also ranked top for his cross-stopping ability, with an astonishing 16.1% of crosses stopped.
The two goalkeepers also match each other when it comes to sweeping, with both ranking highly amongst their respective peers for defensive actions outside of their box. Garcia, like Raya, is capable of pushing further forward and allowing his defence to play a higher line.
Joan Garcia may be the perfect goalkeeper competition for Arsenal
Arteta will be keen to avoid a similar situation to the one he faced last season, with both Raya and Ramsdale coming under increased scrutiny as two goalkeepers of similar ability fighting for one spot.
Garcia would arrive as a less experienced option than Raya, having made just 29 senior appearances in his career so far, but he is a player who can continue to develop in his shadow.
The Espanyol star, who helped his side earn promotion back to La Liga at the expense of Santi Cazorla’s Real Oviedo, is significantly taller than Raya, at 1.91m compared to his 1.83m, and could be seen as someone who can both cover for him now, and eventually succeed him in the long run.
A reported £21m asking price may make a deal difficult in this window, but if he is to be a long-term option, Arsenal may see it as a worthwhile investment into a young talent who is being eyed up by several clubs.