The most talked about young goalkeeper in Europe over the last couple of seasons is Marc-Andre ter Stegen, and it seems the German international from Borussia Monchengladbach is making his way to Barcelona, although it might take him another season to become their first team goalkeeper.
Barcelona seem to be keeping Victor Valdes for another year, as the international goalkeeper, a part of Barca’s rise over this past decade with six La Liga titles and three Champions League trophies, isn’t planning on extending his contract past 2014, but doesn’t want to leave the club either.
With that in mind, Barcelona are looking for his replacement, but in the case of Stegen, who still isn’t the complete package in terms of consistency, struggling slightly with the weakening of Monchengladbach last summer (the departure of Reus and Dante), they’re willing to give him another year of experience with his German club.
The plan is to sign the 21-year old, probably at a fee of €12 million, and then loan him out to Monchengladbach for another season, hoping it works out well for them, and see him develop in the same way Atletico Madrid have seen Thibaut Cortouis improve while playing for them, on loan from Chelsea, becoming at a very young age the best goalkeeper in Spain according to many.
Stegen is part of the German national team setup despite his young age, already making three appearances for the side, all in friendlies, all matches Germany failed to win (Switzerland, Argentina, USA). While he did get to stop a Lionel Messi penalty in one of his appearances, he also made an embarrassing mistake off of a Benedikt Höwedes back pass in the loss to the United States.
He has appeared 90 times for Monchengladbach since making his debut in 2011, appearing in all 68 league matches over the last couple of years. Like with all keepers Barcelona are interested in, it’s his technical ability with his feet that seems like their main point of interest.