Newcastle and Manchester United both in for La Liga star

Manchester United and Newcastle Explore January Move for Barcelona Goalkeeper

Premier League Clubs Eye Barcelona Stopper

Both Manchester United and Newcastle United are reportedly exploring the possibility of signing Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen in January, according to Sport Witness. The report suggests that the Premier League duo have made initial contact with the Catalan club as they weigh up options to strengthen their goalkeeping departments for the second half of the season.

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Ter Stegen, 33, is currently sidelined with a back injury but is expected to make a full recovery before the end of November. His situation at Barcelona has become increasingly uncertain under Hansi Flick, who made Joan García his first-choice goalkeeper earlier in the summer.

Contract Complications and Transfer Options

Despite being under contract until 2028, Ter Stegen’s future at the Camp Nou appears unsettled. With García now established and Wojciech Szczęsny providing experienced cover, the German international faces a difficult battle for regular minutes, something he reportedly values highly ahead of the next World Cup.

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Barcelona are aware of the interest from England, where Sport claims “the interest is high” among clubs looking for an experienced, short-term solution. Manchester United, Newcastle and Tottenham Hotspur have all been linked, while AS Monaco are said to retain interest after being rejected last summer.

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The report adds that these clubs would prefer a loan deal with an option to buy, a structure that would suit both the player and potential suitors. However, Barcelona will not sanction a transfer unless Ter Stegen himself requests to leave, a decision that, for now, he has not made.

United and Newcastle Assess January Needs

Manchester United’s recent signing of Belgian keeper Senne Lammens offered short-term cover, but his Premier League debut last week has left questions over whether he is ready to be first choice. Newcastle, meanwhile, signed Aaron Ramsdale last summer, but injuries and form have disrupted their consistency between the posts.

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With both sides fighting for European qualification, the experience of a goalkeeper of Ter Stegen’s calibre would appeal to their managers, particularly if a short-term loan became available.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

This rumour feels more speculative than substantial. Both clubs have already invested heavily in goalkeeping reinforcements, and neither looks likely to allocate major wages or transfer fees to a 33-year-old on the verge of returning from injury.

For United fans, the focus is on long-term stability under Ruben Amorim, not short-term fixes. Lammens’ arrival was designed to develop the next generation, the club’s financial strategy and youth-focused recruitment make a big-name loan unlikely.

Newcastle supporters might be even more doubtful. With Ramsdale and Pope already competing for the starting spot, another senior goalkeeper would only create more uncertainty. The idea of disrupting team balance with a high-profile arrival seems unnecessary, especially with financial constraints under Premier League sustainability rules.

Ultimately, this report may be more reflective of Barcelona’s position than that of the English clubs. The Catalan side need to ease their wage bill and may be testing interest in one of their highest earners. For fans in Manchester and Tyneside, this feels like one of those stories that circulate every winter, intriguing, plausible on paper, but unlikely to materialise once the window opens.