Barcelona rule out move for Wojciech Szczesny alternatives as negotiations stall

Barcelona decided the best course of action was to sign one of the current free agent goalkeepers to replace Marc-Andre ter Stegen, following his long-term injury. However if they do not get a deal for Wojciech Szczesny over the line, the latest is that the Blaugrana may wait until January to bring in an alternative.

The 34-year-old Polish goalkeeper retired last month, but has agreed on terms and has given the green light to come out of retirement to sign for Barcelona. The Blaugrana are negotiating the details of his exit package with Juventus, but the hold-up is one of Szczesny’s demands. It has been revealed that he will only sign for Barcelona if he is guaranteed the starting spot, while Barcelona have been offering him the chance to compete with Inaki Pena, who Hansi Flick backed as their number one on Tuesday.

Lamine Yamal could rest against Osasuna in Pamplona. @jaumemarcet

— barcacentre (@barcacentre) September 27, 2024

It is not yet clear whether Barcelona will give in and accept that Szczesny is their number one once fit, but MD say they have decided not to sign another goalkeeper if this deal falls through. They will instead wait for January and look for a more long-term option rather than one of Keylor Navas, Claudio Bravo or the other goalkeepers available on a free.

It does mean that their opportunity to sign in the emergency rule, using 80% of ter Stegen’s salary to register a new player, would expire by the time they got to January, thus Barcelona would have to raise more money in order to spend on a goalkeeper then. The Blaugrana have reportedly been tracking Porto’s Diogo Costa, but it seems out of their price range as things stand.

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