Barcelona are reportedly weighing up the possibility of signing 24-year-old Spanish international Unai Simon next summer.
According to a report by Catalan outlet El Nacional, Unai Simon is the subject of interest from Barcelona over a possible move in next summer’s transfer window. The 24-year-old Spanish international is viewed as a long-term replacement for Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Unai Simon has been with Athletic Bilbao since joining their youth setup in 2011. Since then, he has come leaps and bounds, especially since making his first-team debut at the onset of the 2018/19 season. Now a regular for club and country, the Spanish international is widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in his homeland.
To date, the 24-year-old has made 107 appearances for Athletic Bilbao, keeping 33 clean sheets in the process. The player’s progress has not gone unnoticed, with one of the biggest clubs in the world in Barcelona keen on signing him.
The interest in Simon is not too surprising, as Marc-Andre ter Stegen is facing an uncertain future at Camp Nou on the back of another disastrous performance in goal. The Catalan giants are ready to cash in on the German goalkeeper, with Bayern Munich keen on signing him.
Barcelona’s desire is to recoup around €70 million in exchange for ter Stegen’s services before reinvesting that amount to sign multiple players. Selling the 29-year-old will also prompt the Blaugrana to sign a replacement, as Neto intends to leave the club, while Inaki Pena could embark on a loan move next summer.
To that end, Andre Onana is viewed as the ideal option to replace ter Stegen at Barcelona as he will arrive on a free transfer. However, the La Liga heavyweights have fallen behind Inter Milan in the race to sign the Ajax goalkeeper, which is why they have turned their attention towards Simon.
The 24-year-old is the first-choice goalkeeper for Spain, and his status as one of the best shot-stoppers in the game makes him an attractive option for Barcelona. However, Athletic Bilbao could charge a premium to let go of their prized asset, considering his contract will run out in 2025. So, it remains to be seen if Barcelona can afford Simon or turn their attention elsewhere instead.
