Arbeloa eyes Real Madrid’s Gonzalo Garcia as Fulham prepare formal move for striker

Fulham are shifting from monitoring to actively pursuing a deal for Real Madrid forward Gonzalo Garcia, with head coach Alvaro Arbeloa pushing to add the Spaniard as a central striker option.

The Premier League club’s interest, initially dismissed as speculation, has now become a concrete transfer initiative, according to The Athletic, which reports that Fulham are officially targeting the 22-year-old attacker.

Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano has also stated that any agreement will depend entirely on Real Madrid’s stance and the conditions set by the Spanish giants, particularly regarding future clauses and a potential sell-on percentage.

Garcia weighing up future amid fierce competition

Garcia is understood to be aware that his prospects of regular starts at Real Madrid are severely restricted due to the depth of attacking talent at the Bernabeu.

The presence of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Yan Diomande and Rodrygo in the forward line leaves limited room for the young Spaniard, making a move away a logical option if he wants consistent game time.

Fulham, guided by Arbeloa, see Garcia as a traditional centre-forward capable of providing a different dimension in the final third and making a tangible impact in the Premier League.

Arbeloa leveraging Real Madrid ties

Arbeloa, a former Real Madrid defender now in charge at Craven Cottage, is attempting to use his strong links with his old club to steer the deal in Fulham’s favour.

However, the main hurdle is internal approval at Real Madrid. The transfer cannot progress without the consent of head coach Jose Mourinho, whose position on Garcia’s departure has not yet been finalised.

Mourinho must decide whether to allow the forward to leave, balancing the player’s development needs with Real Madrid’s squad depth and long-term planning.

Formal talks expected within hours

Romano reports that Fulham officials are expected to make direct contact with Real Madrid’s hierarchy in the coming hours to open formal negotiations and examine the finer details of a potential transfer.

Those discussions are likely to centre on the structure of the deal, including any future options and resale mechanisms that Real Madrid may demand as part of the agreement.

The outcome of those talks could prove pivotal for Garcia’s career, with a move to the Premier League offering the prospect of a more prominent role, while Real Madrid consider whether to cash in on a young forward competing for minutes in a star-studded attack.