Southampton have submitted a new offer for Reading youngster Andre Garcia after their initial proposal was rejected.
The Saints have submitted their second bid for 17-year-old left-back Garcia. The young defender has played 19 times in League One this campaign and has attracted interest from the Premier League with his performances.
What Do We Know About the Interest in Garcia?
Fabrizio Romano shared on his X that Southampton have submitted a second bid for Garcia. This follows Reading’s rejection of their original offer last week.
The Saints’ new deal is worth a total of £2m. Fabrizio didn’t give a clear indication of the breakdown of the offer, but his update suggested it would include add-ons.
The update also didn’t give any hint towards whether Reading are likely to accept the offer or not.
How Has Garcia Performed This Season?
Garcia is in his first season of senior football, playing 19 times in the league, with 11 of those games coming from the start. He’s played most of his games at left-back but has been utilised as a part of the front three for Reading when needed. WhoScored have rated his League One performances this season at an average of 6.37.
Given that left-back isn’t his natural position, Garcia has picked up some impressive defensive statistics. He has an average of 1.3 tackles per game, 0.6 interceptions per game, and 1.4 clearances per game.
His lack of experience playing at left-back can be seen in his one-on-one defending. Garcia’s committed 0.9 fouls per game and has been dribbled past once on average per game. He’s also picked up three yellow cards over the season.
Garcia has shown he has the ability to contribute going forward as well. He’s picked up one assist, completed 0.3 key passes on average and drawn 0.9 fouls on average per game.
What Next for Garcia? – Opinion
The 17-year-old looks set for a promising career, and a move to Southampton could be a great step for his development. It’s unlikely he’ll be thrown straight into first team action given the Saints’ struggles in the Premier League currently.
The bigger picture Garcia will need to consider is next season. Southampton are likely going to drop back to the Championship, which could give Garcia an opportunity in the first team if the then-manager sees fit.
Alternatively, Garcia could be loaned out. He’s adapted to life in what is a tough and physical League One life, another season at that level could be beneficial for Garcia going forward. There are likely to be lots of interested clubs if he does become available on loan if he makes the move to Southampton.