Aston Villa eye summer raid for €15 million-rated Barcelona utility man – report | OneFootball

Despite there being some reservations about his future in the past, Eric Garcia has proven himself to be a valuable player for Hansi Flick at FC Barcelona.

The 24-year-old was a candidate for a summer departure but Andreas Christensen’s injury blocked his exit. Come January, the Spaniard was again linked with a move away but this time Flick stepped in and convinced him to stay.

Since then, Garcia’s fortunes have taken a turn for the better, with the defender proving his worth with impressive performances in multiple positions – be it at centre-back, defensive midfield or more recently right-back.

Aston Villa want Eric Garcia

Now, though, according to Fichajes, Aston Villa have set their sights on a summer move for Eric Garcia, with director Monchi and manager Unai Emery keen on securing his services.

Monchi, known for his sharp eye in the transfer market, is said to be seriously considering Garcia as a reinforcement for a squad that has grown in competitiveness under Emery.

Garcia on Aston Villa’s radar. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Garcia already has experience in English football following a previous spell at Manchester City.

While his playing time has been limited this season, his youth, understanding of positional play, and technical profile continue to make him a target for several clubs in the Premier League with Aston Villa joining Tottenham, who are also keen.

Barcelona, for their part, are open to summer departures of some players but Garcia is someone who the club wish to keep.

Indeed, as reported earlier, the Blaugrana are already working on a contract renewal for the 24-year-old, whose current deal runs out in 2026. Manager Flick is also vouching for his extension.

As such, despite Aston Villa’s interest, an exit seems unlikely unless the Premier League club come up with an offer too lucrative to turn down.

*Player valuation in title obtained from transfermarkt.com on date of publication.