Barcelona 'considering expensive' Marc-Andre ter Stegen replacement

Barcelona are reported to be monitoring Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa in the event they opt to pursue a long-term replacement for Marc-Andre ter Stegen next summer.

Ter Stegen is unlikely to play again this season after suffering a serious knee injury in the recent La Liga win over Villarreal. But while most of the goalkeepers linked with Barca in recent days have been short-term cover options, there is also a suggestion of looking for a more permanent solution.

The German will be 33 by the time he recovers from the ruptured patella tendon, having been with the Catalan giants for a decade already. While easily one of the best goalkeepers in the world when fit, the former Borussia Monchengladbach stopper also missed ten La Liga games last season.

Costa is on the radar if Barcelona want to consider the bigger picture beyond immediate cover.

Mundo Deportivo writes that sporting director Deco, himself a Porto legend, has been following the 25-year-old for some time. Costa, under contract until 2027, is said to be admired within the Barcelona sporting hierarchy. However, an approach would need to wait until next summer given his likely valuation ruling out anything happening in January due to budget constraints.

There are reports that Costa was offered to Barcelona by agent Jorge Mendes in 2022 for just €12m (£10m). But that figure would be significantly higher, not least because he is more proven and experienced at a high level with Porto, but also following penalty heroics with Portugal at Euro 2024.

Giorgi Mamardashvili was another goalkeeper of interest prior to an agreement to join Liverpool.

Targeting Costa next summer doesn't necessarily rule out a short-term option for interim cover until the end of the season. Current depth behind new starter Inaki Pena is thin, with back-ups Ander Astralaga, Aron Yaakobishvili and Diego Kochen yet to play a first-team game between them.

Barcelona have been in contact with recently retired Wojciech Szczesny, who has confirmed it is something he is actively considering. Claudio Bravo, 41 and retired since leaving Real Betis during the summer, has also said he would answer the call if it came.

Keylor Navas, notably of Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain in the past, is currently a free agent, as is former Real Valladolid goalkeeper Jordi Masip. The latter was previously third choice at Barcelona behind Bravo and Ter Stegen after graduating to the first-team in 2014.

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