According to reports from Sport this morning, Liverpool are preparing an ambitious swoop for Barcelona goalkeeper Marc Andre ter Stegen at the end of the season.
The German international made his name during his three seasons as Borussia Monchengladbach’s No.1, showing enough promise to earn a move to the Nou Camp in summer 2014. Now-Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp wanted to bring him to Borussia Dortmund instead following an underwhelming season from Roman Weidenfeller, but inevitably lost out to the La Liga giants.
The 23 year-old goalie has already featured in some incredibly important games for the Catalan outfit. He picked up UEFA’s Save of the Year award for this stop against Bayern Munich in last season’s Champions League semi-final and also started in the final against Juventus – which Barcelona won 3-1.
But manager Luis Enrique is luxury to another, equally talented goalkeeper in Claudio Bravo, meaning goalkeeping duties are divvied up between the competitions. ter Stegen gets Cup and Champions League fixtures, whilst Bravo is Barca’s No.1 in La Liga.
Spanish publication Sport claim that although the 6 foot 2 German has expressed no desire to leave the Nou Camp, the situation could lead him to move on if the right opportunity arises.
And with Klopp unconvinced by Belgium international Simon Mignolet, they allege the Liverpool manager will try to use the situation to his advantage when launching an ambitious swoop for ter Stegen next summer. That being said, his contract includes an €80million release clause. Steep.
I’m just wondering if other clubs are beginning to worry about the developments at Liverpool , new stand and the German Klopp having been given the job at Anfield, this isn’t just a way of unsettling Mignolet, perhaps Chelsea propaganda machine is kicking into over-drive in order to save their dwindling top-four finish?