Arteta picks Arsenal’s first summer signing: €20m deal in the works

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is close to securing the club’s first major addition of the summer transfer window, with a €20 million deal close to fruition.

Arteta has pinpointed several areas of the squad that need to be strengthened after what appears to have been another campaign of frustration as the Gunners appear destined to finish as runners-up to Liverpool in the Premier League.

One of the roles that he is studying is the backup goalkeeper position. David Raya is solidified in goal, but Arteta wants additional competition in this area, with Neto only at the club on loan from Bournemouth.

As such, Arsenal have turned to Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia and are near to beating a number of top European clubs to the shot-stopper, according to El Nacional.

The Gunners are directly negotiating with the LaLiga club but are poised to match his €20 million release clause, which will trigger a move.

Arsenal rushing to complete Joan Garcia transfer

Joan Garcia has shone with Espanyol, experiencing a breakthrough that has been described in the Spanish media as “meteoric”.

He is renowned as a strong shot-stopper but it is his ability with the ball at his feet that singles him out as being an attractive addition for Arteta’s Arsenal side.

Now the Spaniard is rushing to push through a deal for Garcia in order to beat teams from the Bundesliga and Serie A to the signature of the 23-year-old.

Arsenal are also closing in on a blockbuster deal for Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres, while the Gunners have also made Athletic Club winger Nico Williams another big priority in what promises to be an exciting summer transfer window at the Emirates Stadium.