Arsenal submit late offer for La Liga star ahead of transfer deadline day

Arsenal have submitted an offer for Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia with Aaron Ramsdale closing in on a move to Southampton.

The Gunners are eager to get a deal for the highly-rated Spain Under-21 international over the line with Ramsdale poised to end his three-year stay in north London.

The England international lost his place in Mikel Arteta’s starting XI last season following the arrival of David Raya from Brentford, making just six further appearances after losing his place in the side in early September.

Ramsdale is now set to join Southampton who have agreed a £25million deal including add-ons for the former Bournemouth shot stopper. He is set to undergo a medical today with Saints to pay an initial £18m.

With that deal almost done, Arsenal have now submitted a €20m (£16.8m) offer for Garcia, Fabrizio Romano reports. The Gunners may have to dig a bit deeper however with Espanyol asking for his €30m (£25m) release clause to be met.

Garcia is thought to have already agreed personal terms with Arsenal and is eager to make the move to north London.

The 23-year-old was part of the Spain squad that won gold at the Paris Olympics and is viewed as a future star by Gunners staff.

Espanyol manager Manolo Gonzalez however has not yet given up on keeping his shot stopper in Spain for another season.

‘He is a very good goalkeeper, I am calm when he plays,’ Gonzalez said this week.

‘I don’t know about the transfer market, although I hope he doesn’t leave. What the club tells me is that he should not leave unless a club comes and nothing can be done.

‘He is a great goalkeeper, but the level of the goalkeepers I have is very high.’

Garcia would be Arsenal’s fourth permanent signing of the summer. In addition to Raya’s permanent move from Brentford, the club have also brought in Riccardo Calafiori and Mikel Merino from Bologna and Real Sociedad respectively.