Liverpool interest in Barcelona stopper
Liverpool fear they could be priced out of a move for Barcelona keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Kop boss Jurgen Klopp has identified the Germany international as a potential target this month, after being alerted to the 23-year-old’s unrest at the Nou Camp.
The Reds are prepared to offer £12million, which would represent a small profit on the £10m the current European champions paid Borussia Moenchengladbach for the player last year.
Ter Stegen has a buy-out clause in his contract of almost £65m. While Barca accept that figure is unrealistic, they are in no rush to sell the keeper who helped them win the Champions League last season.
The Catalan giants believe third-choice Jordi Masip is ready to step in as Claudio Bravo’s understudy, and see £20m as a fair valuation for Ter Stegen.
But that is still too much for Liverpool as they look for a genuine challenger to Simon Mignolet.
The Reds hope Ter Stegen will force Barcelona’s hand by making it clear that he wants to leave.
All 21 of his appearances last season came in either the Champions League or Copa del Rey and he has played in just four La Liga games this term as Luis Enrique has once again made Chilean international Bravo his first choice.
Ter Stegen would want assurances that he will be given the chance to establish himself as No.1 at Anfield.
Source: Daily Mirror
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