Chelsea want to sign a central defender in 2026 (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Chelsea are reportedly interested in Barcelona defender Eric Garcia.
The 24-year-old previously played in the Premier League with Manchester City and Chelsea are keen to bring him back to the Premier League. It will be interesting to see if they can get a deal done.
Barcelona have no intention of letting the player leave the club in the near future. They want to sign him to a new contract.
Graham Bailey told TBR: “Interest in Garcia remains and Barcelona are currently working hard to retain him as his contract expires at the end of the season.”
“I hear that Garcia is a player Chelsea want to sign in January, but he will probably sign a new contract.”
Eric Garcia will improve Chelsea
The 24-year-old could be a hugely beneficial signing for Chelsea, who are in dire need of defensive depth. The player knows the league well and will be able to settle in quickly and make an immediate impact upon joining the club. Garcia previously won the Premier League title with Manchester City, and that winning experience could also be important.
Chelsea have been given the opportunity to sign team-mate Ronald Araujo, but would prefer to sign the Spain international instead. It remains to be seen how the situation will develop. It will be difficult to convince Barcelona to sell the player.
Garcia has also been linked with Aston Villa. The Spanish defender has previously been linked with Tottenham.
Garcia is a valuable player for Barcelona
Garcia is an important player for the Spanish champions and they will not want to weaken their team. Meanwhile, the 24-year-old has no reason to leave Barcelona and return to England. It is unlikely that he will be forced out. It will be difficult for Chelsea to convince Barcelona to join the same player.
However, there is no doubt that they will need a quality central defender in the coming months. It will be interesting to see if they can fill in the team’s weaknesses and improve that aspect.