Arsenal will need to move early in January if they wish to revive their interest in Espanyol’s Joan Garcia, who has a changing release clause based on dates.
That’s according to Mundo Deportivo, who explain the complex contract protecting the goalkeeper at this moment in time.
Arsenal chased Garcia throughout the summer as they planned to add competition to David Raya and move Aaron Ramsdale on.
The latter eventually joined Southampton, but Arsenal never made a definitive move for Garcia, instead signing Neto on loan from Bournemouth to act as back up.
Several reports in Spain have made it clear that Mikel Arteta is a big fan of Garcia, though, and a move may still happen in future. If that is the case, then timing will be crucial.
Mundo explain that this summer Garcia’s release clause was valued at €30m, but that was only the case from August 15th onwards. Before that it had been €25m but rose by €5m for the final two weeks or so of the window.
Thus, Arsenal were given a bigger price later in the window when they returned to try and do a deal, eventually stopping it from happening.
And it will be the same in January transfer window. According to the newspaper, Garcia will be valued at €25m up to January 16th. At that point, his value will increase by €5m until the end of the window on 31 January.
The clause is set up as such to act as a ‘deterrent measure’ to clubs like Arsenal, who want to move at the last minute.
Whether that prompts the Gunners to do the opposite and move early in January, remains to be seen. If they do, they save themselves €5m.
