Barcelona have reportedly received offers from three clubs for defender Eric Garcia, but the player is pushing against a move away from Catalonia during the January transfer window.
Twenty-three-year-old Garcia has been little more than a fringe player for Hansi Flick this season, making 13 appearances in all competitions but only starting five matches.
The former Manchester City man was brought off the bench for the final 10 minutes of Saturday's clash with Atletico Madrid, a substitution that did not pay off as Diego Simeone's side scored a last-minute winner in a 2-1 success.
Garcia had previously made the first XI for a 1-0 loss to Leganes, but his only start in the Champions League so far ended after just 10 minutes as he was sent off against Monaco on the opening matchday.
The defender's contract at Camp Nou only runs for another year and a half, and with Pau Cubarsi, Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen and Inigo Martinez also battling for starts in defence, he is seemingly surplus to requirements.
Newcastle United 'among three clubs' to make Garcia bids
© Imago
According to SPORT, as many as three teams have shown an interest in signing Garcia during the January transfer window, including Newcastle United, who are currently working without long-term knee victims Jamaal Lascelles and Sven Botman.
Girona - whom Garcia represented on loan last season - and Porto are also said to have thrown their hats into the ring for the 23-year-old, but Barcelona are giving more consideration to offers from the Premier League.
Garcia previously made 19 appearances in the top flight of English football for Manchester City, whom he represented from 2017 to 2021 before returning to Barcelona on a free transfer.
Despite his lack of minutes, the 23-year-old supposedly has no plans to quit the Catalan giants during the January transfer window, even though Barcelona would happily offload him for the right price.
As a result, it is 'almost certain' that the defender will be staying for the remainder of the season, and Flick is still anticipating using him regularly given that he can play in the heart of defence and as a deep-lying midfielder.
Garcia has scored one goal and registered three assists in 83 appearances for Barcelona, who will spend Christmas Day third in the La Liga table thanks to their loss to Atletico and Real Madrid's win over Sevilla on Sunday.
Could any Barcelona players depart in January?
© Imago
Garcia may successfully fight to keep his place at Barcelona in January, but the La Liga powerhouses should not turn their nose up to offers for other fringe players as they desperately try to make a sale.
La Blaugrana have still not been able to register Dani Olmo for the second half of the season, and a separate report has claimed that they are hoping to shift Ansu Fati when the window reopens.
As is the case with Garcia, though, the attacker has no intention of finding another club in January, and the same goes for Frenkie de Jong, whose future remains the subject of perennial uncertainty.
Ben Knapton
