Arsenal agreeing deal for next Myles Lewis-Skelly as Real Madrid play hardball on transfer

Real Madrid is reputedly determined to sign Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia despite interest from Arsenal and Manchester City.

football.london understands Garcia is a priority target of the Gunners for the backup goalkeeper position. The club had already put extensive work into a deal before the appointment of sporting director Andrea Berta, who will now be working to finalise the move.

Their interest in Garcia has persisted from the previous summer transfer window when they were unwilling to acquiesce to Espanyol's demands that they pay the player's circa £22million release clause.

Arsenal are already well-positioned with the player regarding personal terms.

Robert Hernando, an author and former Espanyol board member, now claims a reliable source has said Madrid are very interested in the 23-year-old. He also acknowledged that the Gunners and Man City want Garcia while describing Como as a club willing to go all out for him.

His preference, however, is reputed to be either a Premier League move or one to Madrid. The latter now seems very serious about the goalkeeper.

football.london says:Garcia staying in Spain and going to Madrid would be a blow after Arsenal prioritised the player for the backup goalkeeper position.

It would also call into question the club's reluctance to pay his release clause last summer.

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Arsenal starlet 'set to leave'

Elian Quesada-Thorn reportedly is set to leave Arsenal this summer after a decade at the club. The Mail claims he is weighing up his options after attracting interest elsewhere.

Quesada-Thorn turned 20 earlier this year and has previously trained with the first-team. A back injury has affected the left-back's development over the last 18 months, but he has returned to playing for the under-21s again in Premier League 2 this month.

football.london says: It would be hard to begrudge Quesada-Thorn a move this summer, especially after witnessing the rise of Myles Lewis-Skelly in his position this season.

After playing barely a dozen matches over the last two campaigns, the former Costa Rice youth international needs to play regularly, which is unlikely to happen at Arsenal.

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