After agreeing to sell Aaron Ramsdale to Southampton, Arsenal is about to make a late move for Joan Garcia.

Highly-rated Spain Under-21 international player from Espanyol had become the Gunners’ top choice to improve their goalkeeping staff in case Ramsdale left before Friday night’s summer transfer deadline.

After quickly agreeing to terms with Southampton on Wednesday night for Ramsdale, Arsenal will now move for Garcia. The newly promoted Saints will pay an initial £18 million, with an additional £1 million contingent upon their survival in the Premier League this season. If more things are added, the deal could be worth around £25m in the end.

Gunners also want a new homegrown custodian to play behind first-choice David Raya, who moved permanently from London rivals Brentford earlier this summer after a successful season-long loan spell at the Emirates Stadium, and maybe even Garcia. Karl Hein joined Rayo Vallecano on loan earlier this month, and Arthur Okonkwo signed with Wrexham after his contract expired.

The Gunners’ previous offer for Wolves’ Dan Bentley was turned down, and now sources say they want to make a deal for Wigan’s Sam Tickle.

Southampton turned their attention to Ramsdale after an earlier attempt to sign Feyenoord custodian Justin Bijlow fell through because of problems with his medical.

Ajax, Bournemouth, and Wolves were also interested in the 26-year-old after he returned from Euro 2024 with England. He had been Arsenal’s first-choice custodian after joining from Sheffield United in 2021, but manager Mikel Arteta put him on the bench when Raya arrived.

If the transfer goes through on time, Ramsdale will hopefully make his Southampton debut this coming weekend. Russell Martin’s Championship play-off winners will be hoping to get back on track after close losses to Newcastle and Nottingham Forest when they travel to face Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium to start their return to the Premier League.