Barcelona plotting move for 22-year-old Premier League star next summer: Reports

Barcelona have set their sights on Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, as per SPORT. The Catalans have been thrust into action following the recent injury to Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

The German custodian injured his knee in September and had to undergo surgery to address the issue. He was subsequently ruled out for the rest of the campaign.

The LaLiga giants moved quickly to sign Wojciech Szczesny as his replacement. The Polish goalkeeper came out of retirement for one last gig, but is unlikely to stay at the Camp Nou beyond this summer.

Inaki Pena has done brilliantly so far, but that hasn't stopped Barcelona from laying down succession plans for the future. Ter Stegen has suffered due to knee injuries in recent seasons, and the Catalans have identified Verbruggen among his potential replacements.

The Danish goalkeeper has already established himself as a first-team regular for Brighton & Hove Albion, as well as his nation. This season, Verbruggen has appeared eight times across competitions for the Seagulls, registering three clean sheets.

The 22-year-old has averaged 3.3 saves per 90 minutes, and the LaLiga giants have identified him as a cheaper alternative to Diogo Costa. The Portuguese shot-stopper is one of the finest in the game right now but is likely to cost more than €50m. He is also wanted at Chelsea, which could complicate matters for Barcelona.

The Blaugrana have now turned to Verbruggen, who is under contract at the Amex until 2028. The LaLiga giants believe that the Dutchman could be a financially viable option next summer.

---

How many goals have Barcelona conceded in the league this season?

Bart Verbruggen

Hansi Flick's arrival this summer has transformed Barcelona, who are now leading the LaLiga title race after 11 games. The Catalans have won 10 of their 11 games in the league, scoring 37 goals and conceding just 10.

One of the main talking points this season has been the high line that Flick has implemented at the back. It has been a risky approach but has been quite rewarding so far.

The injury to Marc-Andre ter Stegen raised questions about the approach, especially with the untested Inaki Pena subsequently thrown into action. However, the German manager refused to change his tactics, and Barcelona have reaped the benefits.

Pena has slotted in quite well and worked in coordination with his backline to thwart the opposition so far. He now has five clean sheets in his eight appearances across competitions this season. The Spaniard was particularly impressive against Real Madrid's defense last weekend, helping the Catalans register a 4-0 win.