26 Jan 2015

Exciting Deal? LFC desperate to sign 'extraordinary' £17m Barca star this week to replace Mignolet

Liverpool continue to be linked with a last-ditch January deal for Barcelona 'stopper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, and new reports suggest that Brendan Rodgers is planning to change his strategy in a bid to bring the youngster to Anfield.

Last week, Sky Sports claimed:

"Liverpool are planning an audacious January swoop for ter Stegen [who] is currently behind Claudio Bravo in the Nou Camp pecking order"

On Saturday, The Independent reported:

"Liverpool hoping to sign up-and-coming talent Mark Andre ter Stegen until the ends of the season."

ter Stegen - recently hailed as 'extraordinary' by former Bayern boss Jupp Heynkes - has made just 8 appearances for Barcelona this season, but his stats are impressive:

* 5 goals conceded in 8 games (0.6 per game)
* Concedes a goal every 144 mins (1 every 1.6 games)
* 5 clean sheets (62% of games)

Despite his excellent form, £17m-rated ter Stegen is stuck on the bench most of the time, and in an interview this week, the German revealed his frustration with the situation. He told Bild:

“The situation is difficult. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t care and it isn’t easy being a spectator. I want to be the No. 1...so it’s something I will fight for."

The German publicly expressed his dissatisfaction again on Saturday, when he told reporters:

"For now, the manager counts on me for the Cup and Champions League, but I'd like to play in the league. I want La Liga, even if Bravo is doing a good job."

I have zero sympathy for ter Stegen:

* No one twisted arm to join Barcelona at such a young age. He made that decision, and now he's facing the consequences (i.e. negligible playing times)

* He could be playing every week for Borussia Moenchengladbach right now, but he chose to abandon his development to spend most of his time on the bench.

* Madrid legend Bodo Illgner advised ter Stegen against signing for such a big club early in his career: "A transfer at his age could affect a career in two ways, both positive and negative. If you make a mistake at a big club and get off to a bad start, it would leave a big mark on his career".

* I'm sure others echoed Ilgner's warning, but ter Stegen clearly chose to ignore the advice.

ter Stegen can moan till the cows come home, but it probably won't make any difference. Claudio Bravo is in excellent form for Barca:

* Only 9 goals conceded in 20 games.
* 13 clean sheets (65% of games)
* Recently went 754 minutes without conceding a goal (a Barca record)

Liverpool could certainly do with some good old German efficiency in the team, but it seems unlikely that Barcelona will let one of the world's best young goalkeepers leave after only six months at the club.

A loan deal is more of a possibility, but that doesn't help Liverpool. The Reds need a permanent solution, and Brendan Rodgers can't build an enduring defensive unit around a temporary goalkeeper.

A loan deal is only a good idea if the contract between Liverpool and Barcelona contains a solid, actionable option-to-buy clause, and there's no way (IMO) that will happen.

Author:


60 comments:

  1. So many young players are too eager to move on before really learning their trade, and it can stunt their development. But in a way you can understand why he wanted to go to Barca.

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  2. My darling, you deleted my comments and appear to have banned me from your beloved internet site!!
    I may just have to post those pictures I have ;-)

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  3. Nicolas Chamberlain2:50 pm, January 26, 2015

    With Barca's transfer ban any deal seems to be very unlikely.

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  4. im sure they can let players leave but cant get players in

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  5. Just to prove it really is me.....

    Go and sit on the toilet, now count the tiles on the wall on your left-hand side from top to bottom.

    Ten rows of perfectly square white tiles, with lengthways thinner tiling at the top and bottom.

    And don't forget to wash your hands on the sink in front of you before you leave.

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  6. there's still someone who think we will bring players this transfer windows ?

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  7. I agree, they would be left high and dry with an injury to Bravo.
    Rodgers saying transfers unlikely, I've lost interest..

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  8. If the owner's of the club are serious about taking this club forward. Then we should be bringing in cavani from psg, it's a striker we need the most. He's the player we should've spent the money on when suarez left. Mig's will be ok till end season anyone with a brain can see we need a world class striker and cavani is the right player imo.

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  9. Great we can spend some of the money the Daily Star guy says we are getting off Chelsea for Stirling. 50 million, it must be true.

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  10. I get the impression that this is a case where the owners are telling Brendan he can't afford to go out and spend 100m on 9 different players and still have major holes to fill.


    To some extent, I commend the owners for controlling the spending. On the other hand, I wish we could bring in one difference making player and go all in for top 4.


    Granted, we may still get top 4 with the squad as it is, but it would be nice to increase our chances.

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  11. Chelsea fans are very upset at their manager over the 25% emotion remark - they say they made more noise than the home crowd for half of the game. The Manager of course is 100% right singing silly Gerrard songs is not support it is the opposite, fans like Palaces who make a constant racket is not support - Support is driving your team on and singing songs that matter to your own team.

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  12. Even if most of your team don't understand English?

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  13. They seem scared that LFC would even consider hiring the moron.

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  14. Hang on, he cost £10m six months ago, we adding £7m just cause he sat on Barca's bench for a few months... Jog on, would be my answer.

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  15. i notice a LOT of people on here misspell Sterling's name. Hmmmmm......

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  16. I don't think he expected they would sign another GK. And I doubt that had Costa Rica not done so well at the WC that they would have. On the other hand I think players of that age, especially when they're on a free, should start smaller but with the guarantee they would play every week. If I had been him I would have had my agent sound out Atletico because everyone knew they would be losing Courtois. Same league, still CL, still big paycheck but a nicer city and more pitch time.

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  17. If he was truly one of the best up and coming keepers in the world, I would like to think that there would only be a select few who could be brought in after him that are more talented.


    No offense towards Bravo, but he doesn't seem to fit the bill as one of the select few I'm thinking of.

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  18. It's a cereal misspeller

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  19. OH YOU CLEVER TO HAVE SPOTTED THAT.

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  20. There are only four m's in hmmmm.

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  21. Dear Player X,

    We think very highly of you even though you are still a young player and will offer you significantly more money than what you are currently making.


    Sincerely,
    Barcelona




    Now I'd love to know what player would turn that down.

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  22. Barcelona will not be bale to replace him because of their transfer ban so he will be going nowhere.

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  23. He must have 50+ identities, or thereabouts...

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  24. the fifth one's silent.

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  25. Put me in goal, Id do better then Mignolet... Honestly, would love this guy, he was my top choice when he was available. Cant see anyone coming or going though.

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  26. Dele Ali of M K Dons going to Newcastle - NOT Liverpool --- this will be another BONY JOB with us trying to sign him for £26 million in 2016 but never mind we are keeping Johnson - WOWEEE

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  27. I think you need to work on your sarcasm. It's barely coming through...

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  28. I don't want to fuel your paranoia, but I believe NGCtC may be a shape-changing alien life form that has been assimilating fellow posters. I suggest we test everyone's blood with a heated piece of copper wire.

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  29. It's really comforting to see that someone else is happy that we have managed to fight off interest from home and abroad if not further afield and managed to hang on to Johnson.


    That's one in the eye for those naysayers who reckon Liverpool can't attract top players.

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  30. Aren't you that left wing loon from the other site?

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  31. I love specificity. To answer your question -- probably not.

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  32. um....no need for that, mate. I'm sure we're all on the up and up.
    BR out. Ibe is better than Stirling.

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  33. I'm quite left wing and my name is Rob as well. But I've never been on that other site.

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  34. It is wise to avoid that other site entirely. The only reason I go there is to watch sloths mate.

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  35. Jamie, why do all your recent articles have such a positive start and a miserable conclusion?

    "Liverpool to buy x y z..."

    "I disagree though...will probably go for the London look, aka Arsenal, Spurs etc

    B Rod has clearly stated that there will be no signings! Very frustrating for Liverpool supporters! Dalglish brought in Suarez. Which proven top player has B Rod attracted?

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  36. Suarez wasn't necessarily a world beater when KK signed him. He did well his first season, but never truly reached his full potential until Rodgers came in.

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  37. Suarez was coming off a good World Cup! He took a season to find his feet, by which time KD left. Even the legend Thierry Henry took a season to find his feet before becoming one of the greatest players to play in the premiership!

    Who can B Rod attract???? More importantly, apart from bringing back donuts, who can Ian Ayre attract???? Apparently you!!

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  38. That's right. I'm a fan of Rodgers. Also a fan of Sakho, Coutinho, Sturridge, Can, donuts, and am beginning to like the looks of Markovic and Lallana.

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  39. Sakho is a good player but is only playing because Rodgers darling Lovren, statistically the worst defender in the premiership was such a disaster, (Liverpool's record buy for a defender)!

    Everyone is entitled to their opinion..

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  40. Thanks for that. I'll keep mine.

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  41. Your welcome buddy, good night!

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  42. You are!
    You're the gay guy from Mediaite, I remember you!

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  43. that's the point, player that would turn that offer down is player that bleed the RED blood like SG (even i think that's silly because he probably won a lot of trophies by moving to the bigger club)

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  44. The last word from the manager was that the club were looking into keepers because Jones was injured. That doesn't mean a full replacement for Mignolet. Obviously the better the quality of keeper the better the outcome for the club and permanent signing would be great but there are just not that many keepers available and in this instance a half-season loan would still help the club. He's a quality keeper and he'd fancy his chances at Liverpool. Plus if he's a success here he'll push for a move away, maybe a second season on loan. Barcelona very much won't want to sell but they'd be quite chuffed to have Liverpool continue his development in the top tier of football. I think as a short term solution to our lack of depth it's a good idea and after that who knows what would happen. The club will try again in the summer to see who's up for sale.

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  45. Costa Rica? That's Keylor Navas at Real. Bravo plays for Chile, I believe.

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  46. Kenny also failed to get the team playing well, no matter who he signed. Football isn't all about big names and Liverpool are playing well with the squad they've got.

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  47. This is not a discussion about KD v B ROD! Liverpool have been extremely poor this season!! Doing well in one off matches does not hide the fact how lacklustre the Reds have been!!
    When can you remember the Reds being 11/12 two weeks in a row and 8/8 the following week on Match of the day??

    To go for the premiership title, you need top players - sadly a breed B Rod cannot attract!

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  48. You were the one who brought up KD.


    Anyway, Liverpool have 21 points from their last 10 games. The only teams who have done better than that are Arsenal and City. They are not just doing well in "one off games".

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  49. Yet statistically one of the best last year. It seemed for all extents and purposes a great buy, a CB who was performing up there with the best already in the premier league. I still think Lovren will settle and become a good player for the club.

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  50. Ahh i see who this is now, 50 years fan guy. Oh Dear.

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  51. Were you being Ironic using cereal then instead of serial?

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  52. Well it was a bit corny

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  53. I'm prepared to change my name, politics, religion. web site allegiance, whatever

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  54. I'm pretty sure you're the gay guy from the media site.

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  55. I'm pretty sure you're that g ay guy from the media site.

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  56. Context, mate. Context.

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  57. ...not that there's anything wrong with that.
    Who knows? Maybe I am. I've been having blackout spells that last for hours, sometimes days. Most times I wake up naked in the forest, covered in the blood of various rodents and household pets; other times I wake up on the media site typing random and meaningless shite to strangers. Has that ever happened to you?

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