Barcelona battling Premier League club for €2 million-rated German goalkeeping talent | OneFootball

Inaki Pena’s decent performances have kept Wojciech Szczesny on the bench at FC Barcelona. Come next season, however, it is uncertain which of the two will remain at the club.

Marc-Andre ter Stegen is expected to return to action next season and the German star’s return almost forces Szczesny out as the player only came out of retirement hoping for minutes in Catalonia.

Pena’s future, meanwhile, will depend on how much the management backs him as a long-term replacement for Ter Stegen. If he is not up to the mark, a new signing cannot be ruled out.

A German prodigy on Barcelona’s agenda

According to reports in Germany as carried by Mundo Deportivo, Werder Bremen goalkeeper Mio Backhaus is seen as a serious option to reinforce Barcelona’s goal in the long run and is appreciated internally.

Mio Backhaus is on Barcelona’s radars. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images for DFB)

At just 20 years of age, the youngster has shown great promise and was even named the best goalkeeper of the Eredivisie last season on loan at Volendam.

Needless to say, Barcelona are not the only club interested in his services.

The Blaugrana currently face competition from Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League and more clubs are expected to enter the race as the summer nears.

Despite his high ceiling, Backhaus has not featured in any capacity for Werder Bremen this term and will be looking to move to a team where he has more prominence or where he can serve as a long-term asset.

A lot will depend on the financial demands of Werder Bremen for he is not the only option being considered by the Catalans.

Other big names linked include Diogo Costa, Joan Garcia and Alvaro Valles.

*Player valuation in title obtained from transfermarkt.com on date of publication.