Former Arsenal star ready to pay to play for Barcelona and solve injury crisis - The Mirror

Barcelona's first choice keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen has since undergone successful knee surgery but now faces several months out - and the Spanish giants reportedly see Wojciech Szczesny as the perfect replacement

Former Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny could make a shock move to Barcelona to help them with their injury crisis after losing first choice shot-stopper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Barcelona are facing a dilemma in between the sticks after Ter Stegen suffered a ruptured knee tendon during the club's 5-1 win over Villarreal on Sunday and had to be stretchered off.

The 32-year-old has since undergone successful knee surgery but now faces several months on the sidelines and Barcelona will be concerned they do not have a reliable first team keeper to cover for him - with the inexperienced Inaki Pena their only back-up.

Barcelona are now reportedly hatching a plan to sign Szczesny despite the former Poland international announcing his retirement this summer after leaving Juventus, according to Spanish outlet Sport.

Hansi Flick's side are said to have identified Szczesny as the perfect option as he would be available on a free transfer and therefore available to come into the squad immediately even after the closure of the transfer window.

The club would have to convince him to make a U-turn on his decision to hang up his goalkeeping gloves - and there is also a secret clause that would be activated should he decide to join Barcelona.

The report says the player "wants to say yes" and views a move to the Nou Camp favourably - though there may be a few hurdles to cross before any move is agreed.

Juventus reportedly negotiated a clause where they would have to be paid a small fee if Szczesny were to join another club in the next year after they scrapped his contract with one year remaining following his decision to retire.

Barcelona may have to request that the player settle the clause with Juventus before proceeding with any negotiations - or possibly even pay it themselves.

Szczesny - who started his career with Arsenal and played 181 times before spells with Roma and Juventus - previously said his body was still "ready to go" but insisted his heart was not in the game anymore after announcing his retirement.

"I left Warsaw, my hometown, in June of 2006 to join Arsenal with one dream - to make a living out of football," Szczesny wrote on Instagram. "Little did I know it would be a start of a journey of a lifetime. Everything that I have and everything that I am I owe to the beautiful game of football."

Arsenal were reportedly contenders to re-sign Szczesny before his retirement earlier this summer as the club prepared for Aaron Ramsdale's departure - with the Gunners noting he would be a home-grown option for their Champions League squad.

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