Barcelona have another plan to acquire Eric Garcia from Manchester City.
Barcelona are in desperate need of a new center-back. Clement Legnlet and Gerard Pique are the only fit senior defenders with Samuel Umtiti still recovering from his knee and ankle injuries. The Spanish center-back is getting old and the five-time UEFA Champions League winners must recognize the need to replace him with a younger and more energetic player. The perfect replacement for him would be Manchester City’s Eric Garcia and that is exactly whom Barca are targeting.
The Spanish giants tried to acquire him this transfer window but due to their financial situation, they were unable to meet the final asking price of Garcia. Barcelona offered nine million pounds upfront with an addition of seven and a half million pounds in add ons and bonuses. The English side was, however, not pleased with the offer made as they desired an offer equivalent to 18 million pounds. This is quite a strange situation however as Garcia wishes to leave City and yet they are forcing the 19-year-old to stay on even though his contract expires at the end of the season.
Currently, Barca cannot make any new offers to any club as the board of directors resigned recently and although they are being managed by a managing committee, they do not have the authority to make any transfer. The Spanish side has 90 days to elect a new president and a new board of directors. After which they can get back into singing players in January.
However, the lack of a board is not their only problem, their financial situation is degrading rapidly and right now player salaries consume 80% of the income made by the club which is eventually going to run the club into bankruptcy. The club must reach an understanding with the players which will see them have their salaries reduced in order for the club to survive. Should they manage to come out of this deep hole, the Catalans will be looking to bring in Garcia and Memphis Depay in January as these were the two players requested by Ronald Koeman but they could not fulfill the requests last window.
Will Eric Garcia be the right defender for Barca?