Arsenal handed major transfer boost in pursuit of Barcelona & Man Utd goalkeeper target

Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia is said to be "open" to a move to Arsenal in the upcoming summer transfer window, according to a report.

At 23 and potentially available for just €25m (£20.6m), Garcia is a man in demand.

Arsenal have reportedly been chasing after the Olympic gold medallist since last summer, when they supposedly had a bid of €20m (£16.7m) rebuffed. Manchester United and Espanyol's local rivals Barcelona have also been linked with Garcia, although the Gunners have received a positive update in their pursuit.

The Athletic's David Ornstein claims that Mikel Arteta has singled his compatriot out as Arsenal's ideal backup goalkeeper option to first-choice David Raya, revealing that Garcia "would be open to the move" even if no deal is finalised just yet.

Only four goalkeepers have conceded more La Liga goals than Garcia this season - including Liverpool-bound Giorgi Mamardashvili. However, unlike the Georgian international heading to Merseyside, Garcia would have been expected to pick the ball out of his own net even more frequently this season.

Based upon the quality and quantity of shots on target Espanyol's number one has faced this season, he has prevented between four and five more goals than the average shot-stopper - no other goalkeeper in Spain's top flight can match Garcia in this metric. For comparison, Arsenal's David Raya has prevented just one more goal than expected.

The first La Liga keeper to rebuff more than a century of shots this term, many of Garcia's saves have been spectacular; Espanyol's regular and literal saviour was credited with making the division's 'Save of the Month' in February and March.

Arsenal, Manchester United and Barcelona are far from the only clubs interested in Garcia. AS claim that Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen and Atletico Madrid are also sniffing around the in-demand custodian.

READ THE LATEST TRANSFER NEWS & GOSSIP FROM AROUND THE WORLD