Eric García continues to remain a primary objective for Barcelona even after the Catalan club failed to take the defender away from Manchester City last summer.
That’s what Marca are reporting and they add the La Liga side ‘prioritise’ signing the centre-back over that of a forward as they ‘intend to strengthen’ their squad in the winter market.
Ronald Koeman wanted to reinforce the back four and attack in the previous window, and these two positions still need strengthening.
However, the ‘absolute priority’ is to bring in a new central defender and they have ‘a name and surname: Eric García’.
Marca state €2m separated the Camp Nou side from landing the Spain international in the summer, and Barca will ‘push’ again for his signing in January. It’s claimed ‘everything has been discussed’ with García.
Pep Guardiola’s side are unlikely to make it easy for Barcelona to acquire the player’s services, just like they did in the last window.
Carles Tusquets, the president of Barcelona’s managing board, intends to meet all the presidential candidates to ‘seek a consensus with them and to carry out this signing’.
For the Spanish giants to sign García, they will first have to make room in the squad by allowing one of their players leave the club. Carles Aleñá ‘will leave for Getafe’ this month, while Junior Firpo could also change sides in the ongoing window.
Memphis Depay has been identified as a key target for the attack, and signing the Lyon forward could only be considered if two Barcelona players leave in January and if García’s signing is completed.
García has entered his final six months of contract, and if Manchester City decide to again block his exit, he can then join Barcelona on a free transfer after this season.
