Barcelona Rumors: Ronald Koeman Lists Down New Names As Alternatives For Eric Garcia

Barcelona is still hoping to land Manchester City center-back Eric Garcia, but Ronald Koeman has already listed down alternative options from Premier League clubs.

Despite the frustrating 2019-20 La Liga season, Barcelona didn’t sign any player from the transfer market in the summer. Now, Koeman wants to strengthen the club’s defense by loaning a fourth defender, specifically a back-up center-back.

The player Koeman is looking for is someone who has “experience and could offer immediate boost” in the team’s performance. Barca has been eyeing a transfer move for Garcia and the Spanish club hopes to seal a deal in January.

However, Koeman now has Chelsea’s Antonio Rüdiger, Liverpool’s Joel Matip and Arsenal’s Shkodran Mustafi on his radar as possible alternatives, Spanish outlet Diario Sport reported.

The Blues are expected to leverage a deal over Rüdiger’s transfer and the report states that the German international “would be delighted” to join Barcelona as the team’s fourth center-back.

Matip, on the other hand, is also viewed by Barca as a credible option. The Liverpool defender presents a strong case of filling the void for the Catalans with his Premier League experience.

Unfortunately, the reigning English top-flight champs are not open to deal Matip in the next transfer window.

Arsenal has not had the best of Mustafi in the Premier League. The report noted that the Gunners are unlikely to renew his contract, which is set to expire at the end of the season and might even release him soon.

Meanwhile, Barcelona could be looking to capitalize on the former Valencia star’s situation.

Garcia, who is a product of the famed Barcelona Acadamy known as “La Masia,” has been rumored to make a return to Spain. His contract will expire in the summer after becoming a regular for Pep Guardiola’s side.

Despite being heavily-linked to Barca, and reports claiming he has opted out of City, the 19-year-old recently insisted that he is still a Citizen and is “grateful” for the club’s trust.

“The only thing I can say is that I am a Manchester City player,” the Spanish defender recently told El Mundo. “I have a contract, and I am very grateful because they [Manchester City] were the ones who bet on me.”

“I’m grateful for the confidence of Pep (Guardiola), Txiki (Begiristan), everyone, and nothing, just that,” he continued.

After proving that he can do things with the ball, Garcia also pointed out that his main job is to defend, something Barcelona has been yearning for at the moment.

“My function is to defend, if you have to kick, you do it,” he stated. “If you have to give a kick, it is done. If you have to go out with the ball, it is done. If you have to clear, it’s done. It’s true that I like to go out with the ball played, also because in the clubs where I’ve been I’ve had to do it, but my first mission is to defend.”