Who could Barcelona sign to replace injured Marc-André ter Stegen?

In the wake of a serious knee injury to goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen, the question now for Barcelona is: sign a replacement right away, wait until the January transfer window, or hand the gloves to back-up keeper Iñaki Peña until the No. 1 returns?

Ter Stegen was stretchered off in tears during Barça’s 5-1 LaLiga victory over Villarreal on Sunday, and on Monday the club confirmed that the German has ruptured his right patellar tendon. The 32-year-old is expected to be sidelined for around eight to nine months.

Who could Barça sign on a free transfer?

Until January 1, the only replacement Barça could sign would be a free agent - and there are limited options out there. One player that has immediately been linked with the Catalans is Keylor Navas, 37. The highly experienced Costa Rican, who won three Champions Leagues during a five-year spell with arch rivals Real Madrid, is without a club after leaving Paris Saint-Germain at the end of last season.

Former Liverpool keeper Loris Karius is currently unattached, but it seems unlikely that Barça will go for the German. Tomas Vaclik, who like Navas is a veteran with experience of the Spanish league, is also a free agent. The 35-year-old Czech international last played for Spanish second-tier club Albacete, and was previously at LaLiga side Sevilla.

There are also Spanish keepers who are available on a free. One is ex-PSG and Sevilla custodian Sergio Rico, who appears to have made a full recovery from a serious horse-riding accident last year. Edgar Badía, ex of Elche and Real Zaragoza, is another unattached keeper with experience of LaLiga, as is Jordi Masip, who is a Barça youth product. Masip is a free agent after leaving Spanish top-flight club Real Valladolid in the summer.

None of the above alternatives, it appears, is the most valuable goalkeeper currently without a club. According to the soccer stats site Transfermarkt, that man is Kristoffer Klaesson. The Norwegian, who previously had a spell with English club Leeds United, is available for nothing after a stint with Poland’s Rakow. Aged 23, he’d be something of a risky bet. The second-most valuable option, per Transfermarkt, is the Czech Jiri Pavlenka, who most recently spent seven years with Germans Werder Bremen.

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Radio pundits urge Barça to sign Valles

Many names are likely to be linked with Barça over the coming days. On Spanish radio station Cadena SER, the choice is Las Palmas’ Álvaro Valles - but, given he currently has a club, he could not join until January. “I don’t know how many clubs are going to be willing to let a Barça-level keeper go - the only possibility I can see is Valles,” Cadena SER panelist Bruno Alemany says. Alemany’s colleague, Sique Rodríguez, suggests turning to a former Barça player: “Maybe they can ask PSG for Arnau Tenas on loan; he’s not playing in France, and could come back home.”

Meanwhile, Spanish TV show El Chiringuito has offered up two further names, both of which would also require Barça to wait until the mid-season transfer window. Per El Chiringuito, the Blaugrana could move for Athletic Club’s Unai Simón, 27 who is presently injured but would be ready to play by January. However, Simón would by no means come on the cheap. The programme also points to Werder Bremen youngster Mio Backhaus, 20, who would represent a long-term signing.

Coax Szczesny into retirement reversal?

When it comes to unattached goalkeepers, a further mooted alternative is former Arsenal and Juventus player Wojciech Szczesny, who would have to be persuaded out of retirement. The 34-year-old hung up his gloves in the summer, having played his final professional game in Poland’s Euro 2024 defeat to Austria.