'We can't say no!' - Arsenal given huge boost in bid to sign goalkeeper by Espanyol director after €20m offer rejected

The Gunners would like to buy Joan Garcia from the Catalan club, according to Mundo Deportivo, despite seeing their first bid rejected. Club sports director Fran Garagarza believes a move could materialise this summer.

Garcia is among the most highly-rated goalkeepers in La Liga, making more saves (89) than any other stopper in the division this season. He has a €25m release clause but Garagarza accepts it may not take that much money to buy him in June.

Garagarza said: "Clause or nothing? No. If you get an offer on June 14 that is not the clause but is close to it in terms of fixed and variable amounts, Espanyol is not going to say no. They cannot say no. If a club comes with eight million for Joan Garcia, that is a bad sale, 100%."

Garcia is aiming to keep Espanyol in La Liga before a likely summer departure. His side sit 15th in the league table with 14 matches to play, just one point clear of the bottom three. Should he move to Arsenal, he would be competing with compatriot David Raya for a place in goal.