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Why Manchester City must get an Eric García deal done today

By J.C. Gonzalez

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 18: Eric Garcia of Manchester City looks on during the FA Cup Semi Final match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on July 18, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 18: Eric Garcia of Manchester City looks on during the FA Cup Semi Final match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on July 18, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images) /
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On transfer deadline day, Manchester City must move on wantaway defender Eric García.

As Manchester City’s transfer window comes to a close, outgoings will be the only subject of discussion on deadline day, and Eric García will top the list. After months of negotiation over price between City and Barcelona, the only club where García wants to play, the time has arrived to get a deal done.

With just one year left on his contract at the Etihad Stadium, García and the Catalans hold all of the cards as they negotiate a fee well below the player’s value after his impressive first team debut season last year. The price currently on the table will likely fall somewhere between £9-16 million, and things are shaping up for the deal to get done today.

City want the player gone for obvious reasons. After refusing to renew his contract, they want to at least receive something for García before losing him for free next summer. Barcelona are looking to ship Jean-Clair Todibo and believe García can be a part of their first-team picture this season after leaving their academy to play for City.

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With the signing of Rúben Dias, City now have enough cover at the back to afford to let García walk and recoup some money. However, they should not let the final fee be a sticking point, as even an initial £9 million, which is ridiculously low, is not worth what is effectively a one-season loan for a backup defender.

It is a real shame to see what was an extremely promising career in sky blue end this way, as I believed García had the potential to mature into a top-class defender in the coming years. Nevertheless, it is now in the club’s self interest to simply give the player what he wants, and time is running out to do so.