Arsenal could be handed discount on top goalkeeper target | OneFootball

Arsenal's long-standing goalkeeper target Joan Garcia will be available for a cut-price fee if Espanyol get relegated from Spain's top flight this season, according to a report in Spain.

The 23-year-old shot-stopper has been on Arsenal's radar since they reportedly had a bid for him rejected at the end of last summer's transfer window. The Gunners are thought to remain just as keen on Garcia as ever and could belatedly get their man this year.

If Espanyol slip out of La Liga's trap door, Garcia's release clause is set to drop to just €15m (£12.6m) according to AS. Even if the Catalan outfit manage to avoid relegation, the prodigious custodian could be whisked away for €25m (£20.9m).

Despite Garcia's best efforts, the freshly promoted outfit are enduring a testing campaign back in La Liga. Slumped in 15th place, just one point above the relegation zone with 11 games of the campaign remaining, Espanyol's safety is far from guaranteed. Opta's supercomputer gives Garcia's club a 30.5% chance of getting relegated - although four clubs are more likely to end up in Spain's second tier next season.

A separate, independent clause will supposedly add €5m (£4.2m) to Garcia's price tag if he gets called up to the senior Spain national team regardless of Espanyol's top-flight status. The Catalan goalkeeper has appeared for his country's under-18, under-19 and under-21 sides. Garcia was also a member of the mixed-age squad which won Olympic gold in Paris last summer, although he played second fiddle to Arnau Tenas throughout the tournament.

Whatever price Garcia commands, Arsenal will face extensive competition to secure his services. Barcelona and Manchester United are widely touted to be interested in the highly-rated goalkeeper, while the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen and Atletico Madrid are also sniffing around.