FC Barcelona Ready To Sell Ter Stegen After De Jong Impasse

FC Barcelona are considering selling goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen following the difficulties encountered in trying to offload Frenkie de Jong.

Barca and Manchester United have had an agreement in place for De Jong’s transfer for a few weeks now.

Reports vary on the exact figures involved in the deal, but it is believed that it sees Barca recoup the €75mn ($76.2mn) they paid Ajax for the midfielder’s services in 2019 and also possibly pocket a further €10mn ($10.2mn) in add-ons.

Yet De Jong, who has just bought a €5mn ($5.01mn) mansion in Catalonia with his newly-made fiancee, isn’t planning on going anywhere and is refusing to switch allegiances.

Despite their run to the Champions League semi-finals together in 2018-2019 when De Jong was voted that edition of the competition’s best midfielder, he is not that close to United’s new coach Erik ten Hag as some would imagine say The Athletic.

And above all, from a footballing perspective, the Red Devils also can’t offer the 25-year-old the chance to play in Europe’s elite club tournament next season and aren’t guaranteed to qualify for it any time soon given the intense fight for just four entry spots in the PremierPINC
League.

It has been said in recent days that coach Xavi Hernandez told De Jong he has a place in his plans but must be willing to take a pay cut of up to 40% with no squad member capable of earning more than €10mn ($10.2mn) under a new policy set by president Joan Laporta.

Simultaneously, however, there have been rumors of Barca telling De Jong to take United’s offer so that they can free up space on the wage bill under Financial Fair Play regulations.

As the club are unable to force the playmaker to do anything, however, they are allegedly looking towards Plan B, according to SER, which would entail them making the shock decision to try and sell goalkeeper Ter Stegen.

Once thought of as “untouchable” at Camp Nou, the German’s form dipped considerably in 2021/2022 and the fact that he currently takes home €7mn ($7.1mn) per year which will increase next term means he is now a disposable asset.

With a contract until 2025 and a €500mn ($508mn) release clause, the 30-year-old could command a strong asking price too considering his standing as one of his generation’s best shotstoppers.