The season gone by has shown Manchester United that signing a new goalkeeper is as important as recruiting a top-class striker.
Andre Onana’s form was shocking, with the Cameroonian making huge errors in both the Premier League and Europa League. And Ruben Amorim wants him gone, with INEOS offering his services to Saudi Pro League sides.
If he can be moved on, the Red Devils will be in the market for reinforcements, with links emerging with Emiliano Martinez of Aston Villa.
Now, Spanish media (via F365) have suggested that Barcelona’s Marc-André ter Stegen could become a serious option with the Catalan giants looking to move him on.
Marc-André ter Stegen an option
Hansi Flick has his eyes on Joan Garcia, a reported United target, while Wojciech Szczesny will remain as the backup goalkeeper, which means there is no place for the 33-year-old.
The major issue holding up a potential move is the fact that the German wants to move to a club in the Champions League, something that will not be on offer at Old Trafford, at least in the short-term.
“FC Barcelona has already outlined its goalkeeping roadmap for next season. With Joan Garcia the main target to be the new Barça goalkeeper, and the intention of keeping Wojciech Szczesny as the backup goalkeeper, the club is looking to close out the cycle with Marc-André ter Stegen , whom they consider transferable to make way for a new era between the sticks.
“In this context, Manchester United’s name has surfaced in recent hours as a possible destination for Ter Stegen. The English club is looking for a way out for André Onana , who hasn’t been convincing at Old Trafford, and is keen to bring in a proven and reliable goalkeeper to lead their rebuilding project.
Marc-André ter Stegen wants CL football
“Despite the mutual interest between the clubs, there is a major sticking point: Manchester United will not be competing in any European competitions next season. This circumstance could be a significant obstacle for Ter Stegen, who is only willing to change teams if he can continue competing in Europe’s top competition.”
Ter-Stegen has been at Camp Nou for over 10 years and during that time, he has won six La Liga titles as well as a Champions League. He still has a contract for another three seasons and his market value stands at €15 million.
Should a better club not come in for the Germany international, he might change his mind but for now, this move seems unlikely to pan out.
His winning mentality and experience would be a welcome addition to the United dressing room, but INEOS prefer young players and it will be interesting to see who they end up signing.
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Ayantan Chowdhury
Ayantan has worked for 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites but his heart was always set on writing about his favourite club. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25
