Premier League duo Crystal Palace and West Ham United look set to miss out on Manu Garcia with the former Manchester City youngster on his way to Greece instead, as reported by La Voz de Asturias.
The admiration between Patrick Vieira and his one-time Etihad Stadium starlet is less a cul-de-sac and more of a two-way street.
Vieira, upon leaving City for New York, said seeing Garcia make his first-team debut for the Premier League giants was ‘the proudest moment’ of his then-embryonic coaching career. Garcia, meanwhile, admitted he’d relish the prospect of sharing a dressing room with the Arsenal legend again at some point in the future.
And, when reports emerged linking Crystal Palace with the one-time Spain international last week, it was tempting to wonder if Vieira could finally coax some consistency out of a talented young footballer who has sparkled only sporadically since leaving City for Sporting Gijon back in 2019.
West Ham reportedly showed an interest too. As did a Burnley side coached by another former City ace in Vincent Kompany.
Crystal Palace and West Ham linked with Manu Garcia
But, according to reports on Tuesday night, Garcia is on his way to Greece instead. Sporting Gijon are negotiating a deal with Aris Thessaloniki.
Aris finished third in the Greek Super League last season. They are coached by Diego Simeone’s former Atletico Madrid assistant, the fearsome German ‘Mono’ Burgos.
And a number of familiar names are already plying their trade at the Kleanthis Vikelidis Stadium. Including Andre Grey, one-time Liverpool starlet Rafael Camacho and ex-QPR man Moses Odubajo,
A right-footed playmaker at his most effective when drifting in from the left-hand side, reports linking Garcia with West Ham will raise further doubts about the futures of both Nikola Vlasic and Said Benrahma. Both of whom perform similar duties in David Moyes’ side.
Vlasic has held talks with Torino. Offers for Benrahma, meanwhile, will reportedly be considered.
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