Barcelona will make an official approach for Manchester City centre-back Eric Garcia within a matter of days, according to reports in the Catalan media.
The 19-year-old has less than a year left on his contract at the Etihad Stadium but despite being able to sign him on a free transfer next summer, Barca are said to be keen to snap him up now.
Garcia is reportedly keen on a move to the Camp Nou but City may well put a spanner in the works with their asking price. They are believed to be holding out for around €25m (£22m), which they feel is commensurate to the amount they paid for Ferran Torres, who had a similar contract situation at Valencia. The price tag has caused some debate among supporters on Twitter:
No for €700 MILLION
— Joe? (@JSZN__) September 8, 2020
Sell him for €20m now!
— Cityzen Agenda (@MCFC_Agenda) September 8, 2020
Sell
— Kavin?? (@KavinDeBruyne17) September 8, 2020
NOOOOO! Garcia is the centrepiece of our project and can not leave for any value below 700 mil.
— aashay (@aashayk2003) September 8, 2020
Great. 25 for him 25 for angelino another odd 4-5 for otamensi. And that’s 80% of koulibaly’s fees.
Mad how we are hanging the deal over 5-6 mil when we got money to spend.— Rishi ? (@mahrezz_szn) September 8, 2020
€20m plus the Bartomeu tax equals ? ? €695m ?
— Gareth Hesketh (@garethshesketh) September 8, 2020
If he was at Barca and we wanted him he would be valued at €125
— Daniel Jones (@BIGdoodie82) September 8, 2020
We do have Harwood Belis and Tosin
— TeenageFootballPundit (@Mns_Althard) September 8, 2020
With the defender’s contract running down, City will have little choice but to negotiate with Barcelona but they are certainly justified to hold out for as much money as possible for a player who is a special talent.
