AS.com

Real Madrid will sign a goalkeeper in January. The injury to Iker Casillas has forced the club to look to the market, and they have just seven days until the transfer window closes on 31 January to find a suitable candidate. For now, Antonio Adán will be Madrid's goalkeeper against Getafe on Sunday, with Jésus Fernández the substitute.

Of all the Spanish goalkeepers, the player Madrid like the most is Andrés Fernández, Osasuna's number one. He has a contract until 2015 and his buy-out clause is 9 million euros. Another option is Real Zaragoza's first choice goalkeeper Roberto, under contract until 2016 and the property of the company owned by Zaragoza owner Agapito Iglesisas, not by the club.

Of all the foreign goalkeepers available, two names stand out: Julio César and Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

César, currently at Queens Park Rangers in the Premier League, is a veteran goalkeeper and well known to José Mourinho from their days at Inter Milan, where they won the treble together. César has recovered his form and Madrid have a good relationship with Harry Redknapp's side and César could easily fill in until Casillas recovers. He would even be the perfect substitute for years to come. Stegen, currently playing for Borussia Monchengladbach, is the most talked about goalkeeper in Europe at the moment. At just 20 years old he has a bright career ahead of him, and Barcelona are also looking at him as a replacement for Victor Valdés, who will leave the Catalan club in June 2014.

Madrid will have the last word, but eligibility for the Champions League is vital, as UEFA rules state that no player who has already played in the Group stages for one team can compete in the latter rounds for another. Players that have played in the Europa League, however, can play in the Champions League.

Possible candidates

Samir Handanovic (Inter Milan, 28 years old)

Julio César (QPR, 33)

Rui Patricio (Sporting Clube de Portugal, 24)

Zeljko Brkic (Udinese, 26)

Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, (Borussia Monchengladbach, 20)

Rene Adler (Hamburg, 28)

Maarten Stekelenburg, (Roma, 30)

Igor Akinfeev, (CSKA Moscow, 26)