Arsenal ready to sign £21m Spanish star if 26yo favourite leaves the club – report

Arsenal will target the signing of Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia if Aaron Ramsdale heads for the exit door, according to The Athletic.

The Gunners signed David Raya on loan from Brentford last summer with an option to buy for £27 million. The clause was formally activated yesterday.

Ramsdale acted as the Spaniard’s deputy last season, but he is no longer content.

It is claimed that Arsenal are open to selling Ramsdale this summer if they can recoup most of the £21m fee spent to purchase him three years ago.

If such a situation occurs, Garcia is high on the contingent plan for the Gunners. The 23-year-old currently has a release clause worth £21m in his deal.

Garcia, who kept eight clean sheets in 14 games last term, is set to represent Spain at the Olympics.

Arsenal could purchase Garcia if Ramsdale leaves

Ramsdale was an undisputed starter for the Gunners for two seasons where he became a favourite, but he was displaced last term after the surprise loan signing of Raya.

Arteta initially suggested that he could be open to rotating his goalkeepers, but Raya ended up as the first-choice for the Premier League and Champions League games.

Ramsdale did not have any complaints over his reduced playing time, but he could push for a new challenge elsewhere after his return from the European Championship.

If he were to head for the exit door, Garcia would be a good replacement. The Spaniard is not a strong ball-playing goalkeeper, but he has excelled with his shot-stopping.

He started ahead of Fernando Pacheco during the final months of last season. He had a brilliant save percentage of 83 as Espanyol were promoted from La Liga 2.

Arsenal would surely want to sign him for a lesser fee than his release clause, considering he is unlikely to start in the league and European games unless Raya is sidelined.

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