Ter Stegen is going through one of the most difficult moments since he arrived at Barça. The one who was for years an undisputed starter between the posts has lost status, and his immediate future with the team is uncertain. This season, marked by a serious knee injury, has kept him practically sidelined for the entire campaign, which has affected the club's trust in his physical condition.
Although he finished the season fit to play again, the context is very different from previous years. Barça needs to strengthen the squad, and one of the positions where they're considering changes is the goalkeeper spot. Ter Stegen's performance and availability no longer offer the guarantees they once did.
Barça looks for a young, promising replacement
For this reason, the sporting management has made finding a goalkeeper one of the top priorities for the summer transfer window. The idea isn't to sign a temporary replacement, but rather a young goalkeeper with potential who can take over as starter in the short term.
In this regard, the name that's been mentioned most in the offices is Joan García. At 24 years old, he has been one of the great revelations of La Liga this season, and his release clause, just €25 million, makes him an opportunity.
Lucas Chevalier and Bart Verbruggen on the list of alternatives
However, the club is aware that closing the signing of Joan García won't be an easy task. The competition for the young goalkeeper is fierce, and Espanyol isn't willing to make his departure easy. That's why Deco is already working on alternatives to avoid missing out on reinforcements in a key position.
Among the names Barça is considering in case the Joan García deal doesn't go through are Lucas Chevalier, from Lille, and Bart Verbruggen, from Brighton, among others. These are more expensive options than Joan García, but the club believes that if a major investment needs to be made, it should be in a position like goalkeeper.
Ter Stegen doesn't want to leave, but he has offers
Meanwhile, Ter Stegen isn't considering leaving Barça this summer. At least, not by his own decision. The German goalkeeper wants to stay with the club, complete his full recovery, and show that he can still perform at the highest level.
According to sources close to the player's circle, Ter Stegen already has two major offers on the table. One comes from Saudi Arabia, where several clubs are willing to offer him a multi-million euro contract. The other would be from an unspecified team, although everything suggests it would be either from the Bundesliga or Türkiye.