Exclusive: Bournemouth Lining up Bold Bid to Try And Sign Barcelona Defender Eric Garcia

Bournemouth are looking to compile a deal to try and sign Barcelona centre-back Eric Garcia when the transfer window re-opens, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.

But our sources understand Barca are confident the highly-rated centre-back will sign a new deal to stay at the Spotify Camp Nou stadium.

The 24-year-old defender is out of contract next June, but Barca have been working hard to try and get the Spain international to stay for at least two more years.

Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea have both been heavily-linked with the former Manchester City man, but no deals respectively were struck during the summer transfer window.

But that hasn’t stopped the Cherries from sounding out whether Garcia would be tempted with a move to the Premier League, with Andoni Iraola understood to be a big fan of the player and hopeful he can build his defence around him.

The Cherries saw the heart of their defence ripped out this summer with the high-profile departures of centre-backs Dean Huijsen and Ilya Zabarnyi, as well as left-back Milos Kerkez.

The arrival of France centre-back Bafode Diakite from Lille has helped sure up the Cherries’ defence, but Iraola craves defensive reinforcements following the departure of three key players.

FLYING START

Bournemouth have made a flying start to the Premier League and sitting pretty in fourth position after ten games. 

However, Iraola’s knows he needs to strengthen – not just in defence – if the south coast are going to continue punching, respectively, above their weight in the English top-flight.

Garcia is valued at between £25-30million, but the longer is contract runs the great the chance the Cherries have of trying to snap him up as a free transfer.

But the club are hoping to tempt Barca with the promise of a decent fee in January before they risk losing the 19-cap international next summer.

Garcia started his career with Barca before moving to City, but he only played 19 Premier League across three seasons for the club and then moved back to Spain to become a regular in La Liga.

This season is his fifth with the club having played 142 games in the Spanish top-flight with 32 of those matches sent on loan with Girona during the 2023-24 season.