Gers to miss out on 'spectacular' talent as Saudi Arabian club lodges £3.25m bid - reports
Yesterday at 06:20 AM
Peñarol midfielder Damian Garcia was one of the most exciting names being linked to Rangers in the summer transfer window.
Uruguayan U20 World Cup winner Garcia, 21, is one of the highest-rated young prospects in South America with the Gers strongly linked to a summer swoop.
The likes of Heart & Hand had claimed that Rangers were 'very keen' to strike a deal for Garcia in the summer.
Nils Koppen attended a TransferRoom conference alongside Peñarol president Nacho Ruglio but a move never materialised with Damian Garcia going on to sign a new contract in Uruguay.
But now the talented midfielder looks set to finally leave Montevideo with Ruglio admitting that the Rangers-linked star is edging closer to a transfer out of South America.
Damian Garcia set to leave Peñarol
Nacho Ruglio has told Uruguayan broadcaster DSports that Peñarol could be about to lose two of their key players this January.
The first is right-back Pedro Milans, who is the subject of interest from Saudi Arabia, with Damian Garcia also 'very close' to leaving Peñarol this month.
"Today something appeared that could trigger Milans' departure to Saudi Arabia," Ruglio said.
"Damian Garcia is very close to leaving."
Peñarol are currently in their close season during the summer in Uruguay, having lifted the nation's domestic championship in the last campaign.
Amid swirling mid-season transfer links to Ibrox, Peñarol manager David Aguirre hailed Damian Garcia's new contract as a 'spectacular reinforcement'.
Rangers-linked midfielder heads to Middle East
The questions now is where is Damian Garcia heading to and are Rangers in the mix?
As things stand, it certainly appears like Garcia is heading to the Middle East.
Uruguayan journalist Enrique Orue Crosa claims that Damian Garcia is 'heading to Dubai next week' to complete a $4m (£3.25m) move to an unnamed club in the region.
Taking to social media platform X, Crosa said: "Damián García is travelling to Dubai next week, Peñarol will receive more than $4m for the transfer."
Whilst for the time being it remains unclear who Garcia will be moving to, there are a number of accounts pointing to Al-Shabab in Saudi Arabia.
Futbol a Primera Vista reported over the weekend that an offer of over $4m from Saudi Arabia had landed in Uruguay.
English language Arab football site Arab News covered the story last week, quoting Ruglio as suggesting Garcia would be heading to the Pro League.
