West Ham United have launched a £14 million bid to sign Girona midfielder Aleix Garcia, according to the Guardian.
The Spanish midfielder was crucial in Girona’s memorable campaign, which saw them finish third in La Liga and qualify for the Champions League.
Julen Lopetegui wants to reinforce every area of the squad this summer, and midfield is a priority for the Spanish tactician.
Garcia would be an excellent addition, but the Hammers face concrete competition from Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen.
Leverkusen are leading the race to sign Garcia this summer, but West Ham are looking to derail their efforts.
However, convincing Garcia to move to London could be tricky, considering West Ham can’t offer the former Manchester City midfielder Champions League football.
The 26-year-old still has two years left on his contract with Girona. There’s also an option for a further year, but his exceptional performances for the Spanish side have made him a sought-after target.
West Ham have submitted an official proposal to beat Leverkusen in the race, but they still need to convince Garcia to choose England over Germany.
Champions League football could scupper West Ham’s chances
Garcia would be an exceptional addition for West Ham this summer. In addition to his nine-goal contributions, he created nine big chances and averaged 1.6 key passes per 90 minutes.
He was Girona’s chief midfield tempo-setter, averaging 89.6 touches per match and was efficient at progressing the ball, recording an impressive 92 percent pass accuracy.
Garcia also played his part defensively, winning 57% of his ground duels while averaging one interception, 1.3 tackles, and 5.6 ball recoveries per game.
Girona have already begun scouring the market for Garcia’s replacement, which suggests they are resigned to losing him this summer.
However, West Ham must fend off competition from Leverkusen to get a deal over the line.
They must do everything possible to sign Garcia, who would be a bargain acquisition.
Stats from Sofascore.com.
