Barça's preparing a deep restructuring of its team, and this summer it'll place special emphasis on renewing two crucial positions for the future: the goalkeeper and the center forward. Regarding the forward position, Barça knows it must start planning for Robert Lewandowski's replacement, who at 36 years old has shown signs of physical wear.
Although he's still a key piece in Flick's scheme, Lewandowski's time at Barcelona is coming to an end, and the club is looking for a reliable replacement. The options to replace the forward include high-level names, but Barça wants to be very careful in this process, as transfer a new forward is crucial.
Ter Stegen's Case is Particularly Concerning
Regarding the goalkeeper position, Marc-André ter Stegen's situation is causing concern. Although the German goalkeeper has been one of the team's pillars in recent years, his long knee injury has set off alarms at the club. Ter Stegen's recovery is complicated, and Barça is worried about the possibility that his level won't be the same.
Although he's highly valued in the locker room and his quality is indisputable, the uncertainty about his physical future has led the club to seek a reliable replacement. In fact, Deco has two main names in mind for the goalkeeper position.
Deco's Favorite
The favorite to replace Ter Stegen is Diogo Costa, Porto's goalkeeper. At 25 years old, Costa already hasn'table experience at the international level and in high-level competitions, making him an ideal option for Barcelona. Additionally, the sports management believes Diogo Costa has all the necessary qualities to quickly adapt to Barcelona's play style.
Porto is willing to negotiate Diogo Costa's departure for about 80 million, but Barça will have to face competition from other European clubs. In any case, Deco is convinced that the Portuguese goalkeeper is the best option to ensure stability between Barça's posts in the coming years.
The Great Alternative: a Ter Stegen Profile
The main alternative to Diogo Costa is Marcin Bulka, Nice's Polish goalkeeper. Bulka is a name that's gaining traction at Barcelona as an interesting and more affordable option. The goalkeeper has made significant progress in Ligue 1 and has a profile reminiscent of Ter Stegen's when he arrived: a young goalkeeper with potential and little known.
Bulka has impressed Barcelona's scouts with his reflexes, agility, and ability to play with his feet. transfer Bulka would be a long-term bet for Barça, similar to what they did with Ter Stegen at the time. Although he doesn't have the same experience as Costa, the Pole offers a more economical option that could allow the club to invest more in other positions, like the center forward.