'Close' - Arsenal poised to sign £20m transfer target this summer amid latest update

Arsenal are back in Premier League action this weekend with an away trip to Liverpool. The Gunners will be looking to end the season on a high note and have three fixtures left to play. They were beaten by PSG in the Champions League semi-final last time out.

Mikel Arteta’s side have fallen short in the title race again this year. The London club will get the chance to sign some players this summer when the window opens. They will also get the opportunoty to let some individuals leave if needed.

Arsenal ‘close’ to Joan Garcia signing

Arsenal are ‘close’ to signing Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia, as detailed in a report by the Independent. He has a release clause of £20million and has caught the eye in La Liga over recent times. The 24-year-old has enjoyed plenty of game time in this campaign.

Garcia, 24, has been on the books of his current club for his whole senior career to date. He was a regular for them at various different youth levels before becoming their first choice. The stopper has made 33 appearances this term and is now expected to move on for a new challenge elsewhere.

The Gunners could see him as someone to compete with David Raya for their number one spot. If he did complete a switch to the Emirates Stadium, he would add more competition and depth to their goalkeeping department. Neto currently provides back-up between the sticks but he is only on loan from fellow top flight team AFC Bournemouth and is due to return as things stand.

What now for Arsenal?

Arsenal take on a Liverpool side next up who have already won the league. Arne Slot’s men can operate with that bit of freedom now and have nothing to play for really. The Gunners will want to pick themselves back up after their defeat to PSG and try and get something on Merseyside.

Speaking ahead of the clash, Arteta shared this update on recruitment plans: “Very much (excited for the summer), yeah. Already with the players that we have, and having everybody fit and available, we are a super strong team. What we've done in the Champions League semi-final, we haven't done in 20 years at this football club, with the actual players that we have right now. So, yeah, very, very positive.”

He added: “We'll try to improve, but certainly improve the ones that we have right now, and love the ones that we have right now. It’s too easy to look elsewhere and don’t use the moment to judge players, especially. I was asked a lot of questions about certain players in this room, always in certain moments. But when other players are out of form, other players that we're discussing, I had zero questions in the last 11 months. So, it's relative to the context, to the moment, and the narrative that you want to generate, and I understand that.”