Barcelona make first bid for Manchester City's Eric Garcia
The Catalan club are hopeful of bringing the Spain international back to Camp Nou
Barcelona have lodged their first bid for Manchester City defender Eric Garcia. SPORT have learned that Barça have offered an initial eight million euros for the centre-back, with another two million in potential add-ons.
The offer is a long way short of what the Manchester club want. City's asking price started at around 40 million, although they know they will have to drop that with Garcia out of contract in 2021 and free to leave for nothing. He can talk with clubs from January.
Garcia has already told City that he doesn't plan to extend his terms. He wants a change of scenery and a return to Barça, the club he left in 2017, is the most likely option at the moment. What's left to be decided is if he comes this summer or next year.
City have tried to convince the youngster, who made his Spain debut this past week, to stay at the Premier League side. Their attempts so far have been in vain. Garcia is clear that he wants to return to Camp Nou.
International debut
It's been an intense few days for the Catalan defender, who's still just 19. He made his Spain debut under Luis Enrique against Ukraine, coming on for Sergio Ramos to partner Pau Torres.
Barça are increasingly convinced that he's their top target. They see him as the successor to someone else who had a stop off in Manchester, albeit with United, in the form of Gerard Pique.
For now, Garcia remains cautious about what he says, not wanting to sever links with City in case he has to stay put for the upcoming season and see out his contract.
