Barcelona eyeing €45m Porto goalkeeper as a long-term replacement for Ter Stegen

Marc-Andre Ter Stegen has been the goalkeeper for the FC Barcelona goal for the last ten years, and with him between the sticks, the Blaugranes had a quite reliable pair of hands to protect the goal.

However, with his injury in the game against Villarreal, the German shot-stopper is expected to remain on the sidelines for the rest of the season. Thus, Barcelona will have to look for a short-term replacement for the goalkeeper in the coming days.

But the German is also already 32 years of age, and the Catalans would also have to plan for life after the Ter Stegen. According to Mundo Deportivo, one of the favorite options of the Barcelona hierarchy for this purpose is the Portuguese goalkeeper, Diogo Costa.

For the short term, there are several well-known names being linked with the Catalans, who can sign only as a free agent at this time, including Wojciech Szczesny, Keylor Navas, Edgar Badia, and Jordi Masip.

But Diogo Costa is a player who can be the long-term replacement for the German goalkeeper, and he is very well-liked in the Barcelona sporting area. He has yet to play for a Champions League contender, and his agent, Jorge Mendes, has very good relations with the Blaugrana side. His good reflexes, height, and safety with the hands make him a particularly attractive option for Barcelona.

However, he is rated at €45 million at Transfermarkt, and he has a contract with Porto till 2027. Thus, the Portuguese club is not expected to part ways with him for cheap. Thus, Barcelona can think of signing him only next year, when they are expected to have the financial capacity to once again make big moves in the market.

Another name that was liked highly in the Barcelona boardroom was that of the Georgian keeper, Giorgi Mamardashvili, who was already signed by Liverpool last summer and then allowed to remain at Valencia for another season on loan.

The Catalans liked him, but they already had Ter Stegen during the summer and did not have the financial margin to sign him.