Barcelona have reportedly made further progress in their efforts to sign goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.
As recently as several weeks ago, the Poland international announced that he was hanging up his gloves after his time at Juventus came to an end.
The 34-year-old was retiring on the back of a 35-game season with the Italian giants, as well as representing his country at Euro 2024.
However, the long-term knee injury sustained by Barcelona stopper Marc-Andre ter Stegen has led to an opportunity to resume his career.
Over the past week, the Catalan giants have been attempting to make the necessary progress behind the scenes in order to register the player as a new member of their squad.
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Szczesny closing on Barca move
Szczesny quickly gave the green light to interest from Barcelona, while the same signal has come from La Liga in terms of the former Arsenal man being registered as a new player in Spain's top flight.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Szczesny completed his medical with Barcelona during Monday to leave him on the brink of being confirmed as a new signing.
Romano adds that the expectation is that Szczesny will be unveiled as a Barcelona player when Hansi Flick's side play host to Young Boys in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
Nevertheless, it should be noted that Szczesny will not be able to be registered for that competition until after the turn of the year.
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Chance for Pena to stake his claim?
Having only made 33 senior appearances during his career, it is fair to say that deputy Inaki Pena has been thrust into the limelight.
Although the 25-year-old made 10 outings in La Liga during the last campaign, he would keep just the two clean sheets and concede 17 goals.
Shutouts have been recorded in his first two such matches this season before four goals were shipped in the surprise defeat at Osasuna at the weekend.
While Pena will don the gloves versus Young Boys, it remains to be seen whether that will be the case when Barcelona travel to Alaves on October 6.
Darren Plant
