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Barcelona will make a further attempt to sign Manchester City defender Eric Garcia in January, although the incoming president will have to give the green light to any potential deal, sources told ESPN.
Despite the resignation of President Josep Maria Bartomeu in the middle of the week, work continues behind the scenes to reinforce the workforce in winter. Sports director Ramon Planes and coach Ronald Koeman believe another center-back is needed.
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Barça tried to sign García in the summer, but failed to agree on a rate with City. The talks continued until the last day of the transfer window. The Catalan club plans to reopen negotiations with the Premier League team in the hope of reaching an agreement for the dismissal of the new president.
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The city rejected a final offer worth € 10 million upfront with an additional € 8 million in add-ons. They wanted a total package worth € 20 million, sources told ESPN.
Garcia, 19, is out of contract with City at the end of the season. Barça, therefore, is confident that the English club will be willing to abandon its claims in January at the risk of leaving for free next summer, although Pep Guardiola hopes to convince him to stay.
“He wants to leave, but maybe we can seduce him into extending his contract with us,” Guardiola said last week.
Barça is left without a president or board of directors after Bartomeu’s resignation on Tuesday. A management committee runs the club every day, but does not have the authority to make signings.
State elections for the club’s charter must be held within 90 days of Bartomeu’s resignation, so a new president must take office in January, if not earlier.
ESPN first revealed Barça’s interest in Garcia on June 2. Blaugrana Look at Garcia, who left the club for City in 2017, as the long-term heir to Gerard Piqué, but also as someone who can add competition right away.
The squad is short on defense. Ronald Araujo played this Wednesday with a thigh injury against Juventus and ended up exacerbating the problem. He was withdrawn at half-time and, with Piqué injured, midfielder Frenkie de Jong had to substitute as center back.
Piqué and Clement Lenglet, therefore, are the only centers available for this weekend’s game against Alavés. Araujo will be out for up to a month, although Samuel Umtiti, who has not played for the club since June, returned to light training on Thursday.
Source: espn.co.uk
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