Barcelona have offered just €5m (£4.5m) upfront, and another €10m (£9m) in add-ons, for Manchester City defender Eric Garcia, according to reports in the Spanish media.

It is believed to be an improvement on Barca’s first €10m (£9m) bid for the centre-back, with it being reported that the bonuses are realistic and would be triggered if the player becomes a first-team regular at the Camp Nou. Even so, it still falls quite a way short of the Premier League club’s €25m (£23m) asking price.

Garcia is keen on returning to the team where he came through the academy, and while City are prepared to let him leave, with his contract expiring next summer, they are unwilling to budge on their valuation.

There is an increasing likelihood that Barcelona will now wait until January to sign him on a pre-contract agreement. If that happens, Pep Guardiola’s side could miss out on a significant transfer fee so it remains to be seen whether a compromise can be reached before the transfer window shuts.