Vice-president Josep Maria Bartomeu says Barcelona will announce the name of the next goal keeper in January once Valdes announces his next team. Pepe Reina and Marc-Andre Ter Stegen are the favorites.
Yes Tata should try him in Messi's place or even more advanced than Leo. I think with this much time he can try many things. But Tata's main option will remain Cesc for false 9, Neymar and Alexis for the other 2 spots.
As sad as it is to lose him for this long, I hope this time his recovery will be decisive and make him forget all about shitty second half of 2013 with all the injuries.