Barcelona receive Serie A offer for out of favour defender
- Eric Garcia is a fringe player at Barcelona
- Serie A's Como linked with January offer
- Competition from former loan club Girona
Barcelona may have multiple options to offload fringe defender Eric Garcia before the end of the January transfer window amid an approach from ambitious Serie A side Como.
Having started a number of La Liga games in September, Garcia has struggled to reclaim a place in Hansi Flick's preferred lineup since recovering from an injury layoff almost two months ago.
The versatile 24-year-old has already been the subject of interest from Girona, where he spent last season on loan, with reports of a willingness to pay up to €10m (£8.5m).
Girona have been unable to sustain last season's success, staring imminent Champions League elimination in the face, but the Catalan club are still in European contention for 2025/26.
Competition now comes from Italy for Garcia's signature. Fabrizio Romano writes of an offer from Como worth €7m, although Gianluca Di Marzio puts the number slightly higher at €10m.
Como, backed by Italian football's wealthiest ownership group, have surged up the table in recent weeks thanks to improved results since Christmas, having initially struggled following promotion.
Cesc Fabregas' side lost summer signing Raphael Varane early in the campaign, with the French veteran choosing to retire after an injury flareup but continuing to work behind the scenes as a board member. Garcia also has experience of English football, playing 35 times for Manchester City at the start of his senior career, and could be a shrewd addition if a deal is done.
Barcelona are over the worst of their financial problems but must still make considerations regarding the wage bill if they are to push ahead with summer spending to rebuild the squad, with Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford among their expensive targets.
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