Barcelona face a call on the squad planning following a serious injury blow to Marc-Andre Ter Stegen.
The Catalan giants captain was stretchered off in their 5-1 La Liga win at Villarreal on September 22 with the club later confirming he will undergo surgery on a knee injury.
Barcelona are yet to offer a timeframe on when the veteran stopper can return to action but he will not feature again in 2024.
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The likelihood is of a season-ending injury, or at least the majority of the campaign missed, leaving Barcelona without a key player in Hansi Flick's squad.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen injury latest
Following tests on the injury, Barcelona have sent their captain for surgery on a ruptured patella tendon in his right knee, with his recovery time unconfirmed at this stage.
Similar injuries have included an eight-month period out of action and that could mean ter Stegen is not seen again until 2025/26.
Can Barcelona sign a ter Stegen replacement?
Despite being outside the two seasonal transfer windows, Barcelona are permitted to sign a replacement for ter Stegen, but 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.
If Ter Stegen's absence keeps him out for longer than four months this option can be activated with Barcelona permitted to spend 80% of his salary allowance on a replacement.
However, as per reports from Diario AS, La Liga are expected to remind Barcelona not to try and work the rules to their advantage following controversy in 2020.
An injury to Ousmane Dembele allowed Barcelona to sign Martin Braithwaite from Leganes with the latter subsequently relegated.
That triggered a rule change on the loophole and Barcelona's approach to this situation will be monitored closely.
Who could replace ter Stegen at Barcelona?
With Barcelona's options limited to free transfers, one candidate has immediately offered to make the move.
Former La Blaugrana star Claudio Bravo has offered to answer the call, if Barcelona reach out, despite announcing his retirement from the game in August.
41-year-old former Barcelona goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, who retired from football last month, has revealed that he'd be willing to return to the club following the injury to Marc-André ter Stegen.
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) September 23, 2024
Imagine 😮 pic.twitter.com/OcDu6qy7EO
Bravo departed Real Betis at the end of his contract in July, and make a quick call to end his career, which included a La Liga, Copa del Rey and UEFA Champions League treble win at Barcelona in 2015.
Despite turning 41 back in April, Bravo could be an option, if Flick wants to add an experienced figure to back up Inaki Pena.
