Barcelona are reportedly monitoring Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa as a potential long-term replacement for Marc-André ter Stegen ahead of next summer’s transfer window.
Ter Stegen is expected to miss the rest of the season after suffering a serious knee injury during a recent La Liga win over Villarreal. While most goalkeeping options linked to the club in recent days have been for short-term cover, Barcelona are also considering a more permanent solution.
The German goalkeeper, who will be 33 when he recovers from the ruptured patella tendon, has been a cornerstone at Barcelona for a decade. Although he remains one of the top goalkeepers globally, Ter Stegen also missed ten La Liga games last season due to injury, prompting Barcelona to think about a long-term replacement.
Get Instantly Update By: Joining Our Whatapps and Telegram Channel
Costa, 25, is on Barcelona’s radar if they opt for a future-focused move. According to Mundo Deportivo, sporting director Deco, a former Porto legend, has been tracking Costa’s progress for some time. The goalkeeper is under contract with Porto until 2027 and is highly admired within Barcelona’s sporting hierarchy. However, due to financial constraints, a potential move would likely have to wait until next summer, as his current valuation is too high for a January transfer.
Reports suggest Costa was offered to Barcelona by agent Jorge Mendes in 2022 for just €12 million (£10 million), but his price has significantly increased, thanks in part to his standout performances for Portugal at Euro 2024.
Though Costa is seen as a long-term option, Barcelona could still pursue a short-term goalkeeper to cover until the end of the season. The club’s current back-ups behind new starter Iñaki Peña—Ander Astralaga, Aron Yaakobishvili, and Diego Kochen—lack first-team experience.
Barcelona have been in contact with retired goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, who has expressed interest in coming out of retirement. Claudio Bravo, now 41 and retired after leaving Real Betis, has also said he would consider returning if asked. Additionally, Keylor Navas, a free agent, and former Barcelona goalkeeper Jordi Masip, who previously served as third choice, are other options under consideration.