Would also prefer Verbruggen who is younger and has higher upside imo. No doubt he'll be very expensive too so more realistic target is someone like Restes. Mid-term would probably be the best to sign and loan him back to Toulouse (or preferably a club at a higher level) for a season or two to continue developing while bringing a more veteran GK to compete with (and be a healthy insurance for) MATS. Maybe Szcz could be that guy if we'll sign him. But we definitely need to start looking at younger GKs.
Younger isn't essentially better strategy tbh.
I think GK who are 24-28 are the best signings you make. It us the age that you know what you are getting while still know they will be long term signings (5-10 years).
Think of Alison (25), Ederson (24), Cortouis (27), Navas (27), Raya (28) among others.
When you sign a younger one, you are investing years in his development, has no guarantee that he will be elite, and clubs asks for more based on potential. Barca also have a history of letting GK keeps their bad habits during development.
And in case they became top GK, their renewals became pain in the ass (Stegen with us, Valdes with us, Cortouis with Chelsea).
The best option to replace Stegen won't be a player who is a prospect now, even if we are replacing him happens in few years.
I was about to mention Diogo in the other thread but think his price (has a 50m clause AFAIK) will be too high for us in current situation. He would also want to come in as a clear No.1 and I'm not sure we'll be in a position to move on from MATS in a year coming off a serious injury. I'm sure Saudis would take him but he'll refuse to leave so we're stuck with him until at least 2027 imo.
You can give such a promise easily tbh, if ypu mean it.
Ter Stegen won't accept being backup, and it isn't his decision. He will accept a move if we sign a starting GK. Signing someone like Costa is simply a power play. We will have our starting GK set and it will be up for Stegen to miss on a starting spot in the NT or leave.
With that being said, I am not that high on Costa, I still prefer someone like Valles, or someone else who is a late bloomer who isn't warrannting ton of hype.
PS: Restes is abysmal with his foot btw. I am not sure he is good enough of a shoot stopper to warrant the club going for him. Maybe Mycael of Paranense (probably butchered the spelling) or Myo Backhaus