Joan Garcia is FC Barcelona's preferred goalkeeper target for 2025, both for his quality and the fact that he represents an exciting market opportunity.
The RCD Espanyol shot-stopper, a key figure in his club's survival in La Liga, has a release clause set at €25 million.
The 24-year-old is on Barça's radar for the upcoming transfer window, although the final decision will rest with Garcia - who must weigh the prospect of joining his city rivals.
Garcia came through the youth ranks at Sallent, Manresa, and Damm, before arriving at Espanyol's academy in 2016.
It was during that period that Barcelona rejected the chance to sign him, despite a glowing scouting report submitted by former scout Carles Lopez.
Speaking on SER Catalunya, Lopez revealed that Garcia's passing ability with his feet was the deciding factor behind the club's decision not to pursue the transfer.
"It was in the 2016-17 season when, I remember it perfectly, I watched a UE Sants vs Espanyol B youth national league match at the Energia ground," revealed Lopez.
"I saw a tall goalkeeper with a modern, physical and athletic build of 1.90m, able to move like the 'old school' goalkeepers with 1.75m, like Buyo, Miguel Angel, Ablanedo, Abel... and like those of a later generation of 1.85m, Valdes and Casillas."
Continuing, he added: "Joan was agile, he had personality under the sticks and made game-saving stops, transmitting invulnerability. I absolutely fell in love with him and, without being a goalkeeping specialist, it was love at first sight."
Despite this strong recommendation, the report did not gain traction within Barça's youth system at the time.
"All these reports were put into a computer programme and the club's line of thinking was that the goalkeeper should be able to play with his feet," Lopez explained.