Barcelona continue to retain a strong interest in Eric García even after failing to sign the Manchester City player last summer.
The La Liga giants are without a president and the election to decide Josep Maria Bartomeu’s successor is one of the factors holding them back from signing the defender in the winter market.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the presidential candidates haven’t given their approval for the centre-back’s arrival in January and this could lead to a ‘high risk scenario’.
García’s current deal at the Etihad expires at the end of this season. His contract situation could allow City to convince him sign an extension and also provide opportunities to other potential clubs to get ahead of Barca to sign him.
Sources close to García have admitted ‘any hypothesis is possible’, but the central defender’s ‘firmness and willingness’ is still to join Barcelona.
This loyalty from García comes as a relief, but it’s not clear as to how long it will last because City are asking for a fixed fee of €5m plus an additional €5m in bonus payments to let him leave this month.
The figures demanded by the Manchester club are well within reach of PSG and several other clubs in the Premier League.
At Barca, there’s no fear as García accepting another club’s proposal in January.
However, those at the Catalan club are concerned as to what will happen between now and June, if he doesn’t arrive this month and his signing for the next season is not announced soon.
