Barcelona are looking to bring in a new goalkeeper in the coming weeks after a season-ending injury for No.1 Marc-Andre ter Stegen with Wojciech Szczesny a surprise option.
Ter Stegen was stretchered off in Barcelona's 5-1 La Liga win at Villarreal last weekend with later tests confirming a serious knee issue for the Germany international.
Barcelona have since sent ter Stegen for surgery, and his rehabilitation will begin next month, but he is unlikely to feature again in the 2024/25 campaign.
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Inaki Pena was drafted in for their 1-0 midweek home win over Getafe and he is expected to remain in place until a decision is made on the plan to replace ter Stegen.
Can Barcelona sign a ter Stegen replacement?
Despite being outside the seasonal transfer windows, Barcelona are permitted to sign a replacement for ter Stegen, within strict UEFA and La Liga guidelines.
Barcelona can only sign a player that is currently a free agent, and not under contract or tied to any other club via a pre-contract agreement, and they must ensure any deal keeps them within La Liga's financial guidelines.
The club have constantly had to tweak deals to stay within those rules, and there is the possibility of de-registering ter Stegen as a La Liga player, to free up a salary spot.
Is Wojciech Szczesny joining Barcelona?
Former Polish international Szcsesny falls in the available category for Barcelona following his summer departure from Juventus.
However, unlike other options, including former Barcelona star Claudio Bravo, Szczesny has actually retired from the game.
As per reports from transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Barcelona have now reached out to the former Arsenal star, with 12-month contract agreed.
🚨🔵🔴 Wojciech Szczesny to Barcelona, here we go! Deal in place for Polish goalkeeper to join as free agent.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 25, 2024
Szczesny will come out of retirement to sign for Barça and replace ter Stegen on one year contract.
↪️🇵🇱 Medical tests will take place in Spain in the next days. pic.twitter.com/FClO42e6Qg
La Liga rules enable Barcelona to use 80% of ter Stegen's salary to cover Szczesny's wages with the 34-year-old poised for a dramatic return to European football.
