Barcelona’s options to replace Ter Stegen as former Real Madrid among candidates
Barcelona will have to look at the transfer window to find a quality replacement after having dealt with a major blown on Sunday as Marc-Andre ter Stegen picked up a serious injury.
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Ter Stegen to be side-lined for months.
There have not been official updates so far regarding the German’s injury. However, Ter Stegen will be missing at least seven to nine months. It could be too early to state this, but the 32-year-old keeper may be ruled out for the rest of the season.
The Catalan side is still waiting for a diagnostic, but it will still need to consider the options for a replacement.
Who could replace Ter Stegen at Barcelona?
According to sources, Barca will sign a new goalkeeper even though they still have Inaki Pena.
The second-choice goalkeeper is nowhere near Stegen’s level, but he has proved that he could be a trusted figure in the post, having featured numerous times for the past seasons.
However, with multiple competitions, the La Liga runner-up from last season will have to consider a bigger name.
There is no shortage of options available in the market, as Barca could sign a free agent at any time, even though the transfer window closed last month.
Barcelona’s options
Three goalkeepers are readily available as free agents, with the most notable being former Real Madrid Keylor Navas.
The Costa Rican has been among the most elite shot-stoppers for decades, having played a pivotal role in Los Blancos’ wins during the decade of La Liga and Champions League dominance.
Of course, signing a rival, even a former star, will be controversial. At this moment, Navas is the most experienced and highly regarded goalkeeper among other options.
His most recent stint at Paris Saint-Germain demonstrated that the Costa Rican still has what it takes to perform at the top level.
Besides Navas, Edgar Badia and Loris Karius are potential signings for Barca.
Edgar is a Spanish star who has been consistent for Elche, who owns agility, sharp reflexes, and a great mentality.
While Badia may not have the international pedigree of someone like Navas, he is familiar with Spanish football and has almost 200 appearances in La Liga 2.
Meanwhile, former Liverpool Karius has had a tumultuous career and once played in a Champions League final in 2018; yes, it’s a night to forget for him…
After that final, Karius struggled to find a big side, having been under Newcastle in the most recent spell.
However, he still offers physical presence and shot-stopping abilities, which could give Barcelona the depth they need in goal.
Karius represents a high-risk, high-reward scenario. While his reputation has taken a hit, he has the potential to rediscover his form if given the right environment.
For Barcelona, signing Karius would be a gamble but one that could pay off if the German regains his confidence.