Arsenal target Joan Garcia makes fresh transfer admission after £21m twist

target Joan Garcia has refused to rule out a summer exit from Espanyol as . The 24-year-old has been one of the outstanding goalkeepers in La Liga this season and helped his team preserve their Spanish top-flight status on Saturday.

Garcia finished with the most saves of any 'keeper in La Liga (146) and was then handed the Dani Jarque award, given to Espanyol's best player. But the Catalan-based side are resigned to losing the Spain international, with Barcelona and Arsenal said to be leading the race for his signature.

The Gunners looked to have sealed a deal for Garcia last summer, only for the shot-stopper to remain at Espanyol. Mikel Arteta's side instead signed Neto on loan from Bournemouth after Aaron Ramsdale's £18million departure. But with Neto's loan set to expire, Arsenal are on the lookout for a new No.2.

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Having impressed in La Liga, Garcia has risen to the top of Arsenal's shortlist and he has a £21m release clause in his contract. Garcia's price would have inflated £4m had he been called up to the Spain national team squad for their Nations League game against France, but Luis de la Fuente didn't select him.

When asked about the latest rumours, Garcia told Spain's : "At the end of the day, in football, news is coming out all the time, things are coming out. Until things become a reality, it's not always the truth.

"But anyway, as I'm telling you, I'm very calm. Whatever needs to be decided, I'll definitely think about it a lot with my people and choose what will be best for me. I'm sure it will be like that."

Barcelona were said to be the frontrunners, alongside Arsenal, last week and Espanyol head coach Manolo Gonzalez delivered his own verdict on Garcia's future and where he could end up.

As Barcelona and Espanyol are bitter rivals and less than six miles apart, Gonzalez warned Garcia to think "very carefully" about a move across to Hansi Flick's side.

"I know he has strong feelings for Espanyol," Gonzalez said. "I'm not in his head, but I would be very surprised if he went to Barca because they have Ter Stegen and because they're our eternal rival. I would be very surprised… but I'm not in anyone’s head and I don't know what he'll do. I won’t tell him anything."