Manchester City to make bid for Marc-Andre Ter Stegen
After a disastrous Euros, it is reported that Joe Hart may be losing his spot as Manchester City’s number 1 goalkeeper. Hart is the last player in the starting 11 that was around during the pre-Arab money era, being signed to the club for just £100,000. However, it doesn’t seem like he’ll be in the team for much longer, with Pep Guardiola looking for a replacement.
It is believed that Guardiola wants a ‘sweeper-keeper’, a role that Hart doesn’t fill. It is believed that he may be replaced by Barcelona’s second choice ‘keeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen. Ter Stegen is reportedly unhappy at his lack of first team football, even though he does play all cup games and Champions League games. A move to the Premier League and to his old manager does seem quite likely, however it is unlikely that Barcelona will part with their prized possession for a cheap fee.
It is widely feared that Hart will struggle to find his form again after his appalling Euro 2016 campaign, conceding from a Gareth Bale free kick that should never have gone in, before making a blunder in England’s defeat to Iceland in the last 16. He will likely face a lot of stick from supporters during the campaign, so it will be interesting to see how the England number 1 deals with the pressure if he does keep his place.
Ter Stegen has been a great servant to Barcelona over the past few years, playing every game in their Champions League winning campaign in 2014-15, whilst also helping them win the Copa Del Rey twice and the UEFA Super Cup once.
Despite being a quality goalkeeper, Ter Stegen doesn’t get much action for his country either, this is because he happens to play for the same nation as a certain Manuel Neuer. The best goalkeeper in the world is unlikely to be losing his spot any time soon, so it is unlikely that Ter Stegen will be picking up too many caps for Germany to add to the 6 he currently owns, except maybe in a few friendlies. It must be a hard life being Ter Stegen, playing second fiddle at both domestic and international leve, despite being one of the worlds top goalkeepers.
