One of Barcelona’s unresolved issues this summer concerns goalkeeper Marc Ter Stegen. The club is eager to offload the German international, but his high salary has deterred most clubs from making firm offers.
Ter Stegen came off a loan spell at Girona that was disrupted by surgery. Ajax showed interest especially after signing Michel as their new manager. However, talks with Ajax have become complicated as the Dutch club cannot afford Ter Stegen’s wage demands.
Instead, Ajax is in advanced talks with Yann Sommer, a free agent with similar experience and also a former Borussia Monchengladbach goalkeeper like Ter Stegen. Should the Sommer deal be completed, Ter Stegen’s prospects of joining Ajax will effectively close.
Barcelona’s current option is to arrange another loan similar to the Girona deal, covering part of Ter Stegen’s salary. The goalkeeper has set strict conditions for any move, prioritizing his family’s welfare and expressing a preference to avoid exotic locations, favoring a stay in Spain.
Ter Stegen plans to participate in Barcelona’s pre-season to work on his fitness before making a career decision. The player’s contract and salary commitments present financial constraints limiting transfer options for the club.
