The four teams that could bid for a Barça substitute in January

Eric García is one of the FC Barcelona substitutes with the best chances of leaving the club again in the upcoming winter market. Initially, both the coaching staff and the board support his continuity, understanding that the club's finances do not allow enough room to sign in January. However, the player will have the final say on his future, as at least four teams are after him.

The team that seems most insistent on signing him next month is Girona. Míchel's side prioritized his continuity in Montlivi after the good performance of the defender on loan during the 2023/24 season, but ultimately Barça preferred to recall him during a summer where there was also not enough financial strength to reinforce the squad. In this sense, Montilivi would be willing to negotiate for his permanent transfer, although Barça will hardly let him go for less than 15 million euros.

Eric arrived for free after leaving Manchester City in 2021. This season, Hansi Flick has given him playing time as a pivot and center-back, the two positions that the '24' can cover most securely. In total, the 23-year-old player has accumulated 541 minutes of action spread over 13 matches (1 assist). Before suffering from pubalgia that kept him in the Barça infirmary for a month, he started four consecutive league matches.

England and Portugal are keeping an eye on Eric García

After his return, he only featured in the XI against Leganés (played 74 minutes), where he acted as a center-back alongside Iñigo Martínez. García has a contract until June 2026 and, for now, nothing is known about his renewal. Additionally, besides Girona, Porto, Newcastle, and Chelsea are also very attentive to his future. The 'dragons' were close to signing him last summer, but Barça preferred to keep him in the squad due to his defensive versatility.

Of all the center-backs at Barcelona, Eric is the only defender available who can play comfortably as a pivot, as Andreas Christensen, who also played as a '5' for a couple of months last season, will only return in January after missing the entire first half of the 2024/25 season due to an Achilles tendon injury. Hence, Flick prefers to keep him within the Barça squad, at least until the end of the season.