Former Manchester City youngster Manu Garcia could be returning to the Premier League with West Ham United and Crystal Palace keen on the Burnley target, according to La Voz de Asturias.
Failing to make the grade at a star-studded City is no great disaster. Seko Fofana has blossomed into arguably the most influential midfielder in the whole of Ligue 1 since leaving the Etihad Stadium after all. Things haven’t worked out too badly for Angelino, Tosin Adarabioyo or Douglas Luiz either.
And while the 2021/22 campaign ended in relegation for Deportivo Alaves, Garcia still climbed out of the wreckage with his reputation not only intact but enhanced.
The now-24-year-old playmaker certainly caught the eye during his loan spell at the La Liga outfit. And the reward for his efforts may be with a second stab at the Premier League.
West Ham and Crystal Palace like Manu Garcia
According to La Voz de Asturias, former City youth coach Patrick Vieira is keen on the idea of reuniting with the one-time Spain international at Crystal Palace. Ditto Vincent Kompany – the legendary Etihad skipper – at Burnley.
El Comercio, meanwhile, say that West Ham are interested too. Interestingly, the much-travelled playmaker is at his most effective when drifting in from the left. As such, these links will raise further questions about the futures of Said Benrahma and Nikola Vlasic at the London Stadium.
Garcia, who made his top-flight debut under former Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini in 2015/16, is currently contracted to Spanish second tier outfit Sporting Gijon. He is actually their record signing, having arrived for £3.5 million. And there is a clause in Garcia’s contract that allows him to leave the Segunda side for a team in one of Europe’s top-five major leagues. Albeit a clause which expires on July 15th.
That gives West Ham, Burnley and Crystal Palace just ten days to come to an agreement. Then again, after Sporting Gijon finished 17th in the table, it is unlikely that Garcia will be sticking around next season anyway.
“Manu is a guy I really like,” former Man City team-mate David Silva once said of Garcia. “His attitude is like how I was when I was his age. Apart from that, in terms of football ability, he’s got very good skills.
“He’s very young and I’m sure there’s a lot to come.”
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