Barcelona in Crisis: Emergency Transfer Talks Held to Replace Germany International Goalkeeper After Shattering Injury on Ter Stegen

Barcelona suffered a blow when Germany international goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen picked up a grave injury during Sunday's 5-1 La Liga win over Villarreal, with the goalkeeper believed to have ruptured his patella tendon. The 32-year-old German player will reportedly undergo surgery.

With such an alarming injury, club officials-club coach Hansi Flick and sporting director Deco will take emergency meetings this week to consider taking a free-agent goalkeeper. Even though Iñaki Peña has done a great job while Ter Stegen was away for the previous season, the club will look to reinforce with an experienced keeper or bet on Peña's skills until the January transfer window.

La Liga rules allow Barcelona to sign a free agent if the players suffer long-term injuries. For those purposes, the club is scouting for free agents such as Keylor Navas, Loris Karius, and former player Jordi Masip- all currently without contracts.

Even as Barcelona stands at the edge of collapse, Peña will take his place as the No. 1 goalkeeper for Wednesday's appointment against Getafe, a seventh consecutive win to start La Liga.

The 25-year-old has been at Barcelona since 2012 and has more glimpses of promise-especially during his loan spell at Galatasaray last year. With all the mounting pressure, Barcelona needs to fasten their acts to navigate this crisis and maintain their headway to early-season momentum.