Four key traits Barcelona are looking for in their future goalkeeper – report

The summer transfer window is a few months away and FC Barcelona have begun actively planning to reinforce the squad.

The goalkeeping department is something that the sporting management led by Deco is looking at, considering Marc-Andre ter Stegen is returning from a lengthy injury layoff and the continuity of Inaki Pena and Wojciech Szczesny is not guaranteed.

As reported earlier, any new signing would depend on whether Szczesny decides to sign a new deal and continue at Barça or not.

But the Catalans understand that sooner or later, a decisive move will be needed, either by making a signing in the transfer market or by placing faith in their academy.

As such, Mundo Deportivo reports that Barcelona aim to secure a high-level goalkeeper who can initially serve as a reliable backup to Ter Stegen before eventually succeeding him as the team’s number one.

The ideal profile

The report further highlights the ideal profile of a goalkeeper that Barcelona want for their future goalkeeper.

First and foremost, the Catalans seek a highly talented shot-stopper with strong technical fundamentals—both in goal and when coming off his line.

Additionally, age is a key factor, as the club wants a long-term solution, whether through an external signing or a homegrown player – as such a young player will be sought.

Another crucial requirement is height and reach. The priority is to find a goalkeeper over 1.90 metres tall, capable of filling the goal, intimidating opponents, and dominating aerial duels.

If possible, Barça would also prefer a candidate with some experience at the highest level to ensure they can handle the pressure of competing at the club and challenging Ter Stegen for a starting spot.

Interestingly, Barcelona do not consider ball-playing ability to be essential for their new goalkeeper. While playing out from the back is important in the club’s philosophy, the main priority is shot-stopping ability.

Among goalkeepers in La Liga, the club’s ideal candidate would have been Valencia’s Giorgi Mamardashvili, but he has already been signed by Liverpool. Another player highly rated by Barcelona’s scouting department is Joan Garcia of RCD Espanyol.