Wolves are keen to sign La Liga stopper David Garcia and Osasuna sporting director Braulio Vazquez admits that the defender’s £17 million release clause is within the reach of Premier League clubs, speaking to Noticias de Navarra.
Bottom of the Premier League heading into the World Cup break, Wolverhampton Wanderers are wasting no time as they look to hand Julen Lopetegui some much-needed reinforcements during the winter window.
Talks for Atletico Madrid duo Matheus Cunha and Felipe are already underway. Lopetegui, meanwhile, admitted that he is a fan of Marcos Acuna when quizzed about a potential £12 million deal for Sevilla’s Argentina left-back.
David Garcia is another name on Wolves’ La Liga-heavy wishlist.
According to AS, Lopetegui is a long-time admirer of the 28-year-old powerhouse. Osasuna, meanwhile, are more than aware of Wolves’ interest; Garcia’s £17 million release clause unlikely to put off a side looking to spend their way to safety.
Julen Lopetegui’s Wolves like Osasuna and La Liga ace David Garcia
“If a player like Unai (Garcia) or David (leaves), it is because perhaps something irresistible is coming for them at a contractual level. And we must understand it,” admits Vazquez.
“If 20 million comes for David or for whoever it is, we cannot trivialise that amount. Because 20 million would be seven or eight million more than the highest (amount received) in the club’s history.
“Apart from Real Madrid and Barcelona, nobody can pay twenty million in Spain. (But) they can pay in the English Premier League, right?”
Vazquez adds that Osasuna will be unable to sign any new players unless they sell first. And Garcia, who has captained the Pamplona-based club eight times in La Liga this season, is arguably their most ‘sellable’ asset.
Comfortable at centre-half and in defensive midfield, Garcia would add experience, leadership and versatility to a relatively callow Wolves backline. At £17 million, however, he is a damn sight more expensive than the other Spain-based centre-half on Lopetegui’s radar; 2021 La Liga winner Felipe.
Felipe is out of contract in 2023. Atletico are unlikely to demand much more than a nominal fee either, given that the former FC Porto giant has played just twice in Spain’s top flight this term.
“Both (Matheus) Cunha and Felipe are options to sign in the January transfer window,” Lopetegui explains. “We like them. We are opening up different options. Because the reality is that we have to reinforce the team in different positions.
“(Acuna is also) a player that I like. But we will see what happens.”
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