Arsenal learn how to land top target on the cheap after ‘secret transfer clause’ exposed

Arsenal could bag themselves a cut-price transfer deal if they reignite their interest in Joan Garcia and act swiftly.

Espanyol fought off the Gunners during the summer window by insisting that they pay the entirety of his £25million release clause. Given that Garcia would arrive in north London as the second-choice goalkeeper behind David Raya, sporting director Edu decided not to press ahead with such an expensive pursuit.

That decision could pay dividends in January. According to Mundo Deportivo, Garcia’s release clause drops to £20.8m in the early stages of a transfer window and only returns to its previous mark 15 days before the deadline.

Arsenal could therefore save £4.2m on the price they were quoted in the summer, and several weeks on from the window closing, Garcia is already looking like better value for money.

Had they pulled the trigger in January, Edu and manager Mikel Arteta would have got their hands on a 23-year-old prospect with a handful of appearances in Spain’s second-tier. Now, following Espanyol’s promotion, Garcia is a fully-fledged La Liga goalkeeper who has proven himself capable of standing up to the test of a top European league.

For Arsenal, it is impossible to look past the notion that a superior deal than the one they were offered in the summer is there for the taking in January – providing they are willing to act early in the window.

The Gunners ended up signing veteran goalkeeper Neto from Bournemouth on deadline day and the Brazilian is yet to make his debut. Snapped up on a season-long loan, the 35-year-old is likely only a temporary solution and senior figures at the Emirates Stadium reportedly view Garcia as a player capable of challenging Raya between the sticks.

Arsenal face competition for the Espanyol star’s signature, with Barcelona eyeing him up following a long-term injury to Marc-Andre ter Stegen, and Real Madrid also keen.

One thing that could scupper Arsenal’s chances of sealing a £20.8m winter swoop is Espanyol offering Garcia a new contract with a higher release clause. It is unknown whether the stopper, whose current deal runs until 2028, would be receptive to the promise of improved terms if it hurt his chances of getting a big move.

Garcia is capped up to Under-21 level with Spain and was selected to represent his nation at the Olympics this summer. La Roja won the gold medal in Paris but Garcia was unable to displace rival goalkeeper Arnau Tenas from the starting line-up.