Chelsea interested in a swap deal involving Barcelona goalkeeper.
With the majority of the major leagues wrapping up their seasons, it was only a matter of time before Barcelona was linked to a wild summer transfer rumor.
The rumor involves a potential swap deal with Premier League team, Chelsea.
More from Everything Barca
- FC Barcelona tracking Belgian Wonderkid
- FC Barcelona vs Betis Player Ratings
- Barça boss Xavi to get contract extension
- FC Barcelona planning swoop for Arsenal midfielder
- Barcelona interested in €30 million wonderkid
According to Mundo Deportivo, the side managed by Frank Lampard have identified Marc-André ter Stegen as the keeper they want to replace Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Chelsea are considering lining up an offer to Barcelona that would include a fee as well as the aforementioned Kepa, who has had a torrid time at the club since arriving back in 2018 from Athletic Bilbao for a record fee for a keeper.
Ter Stegen isn’t the only La Liga goalie they seem to be keeping tabs on. A report from Goal states that they are also eyeing a move for Atletico Madrid keeper Jan Oblak who would cost Chelsea €120 million.
Barcelona unlikely to part ways with the German keeper.
The interest from Chelsea comes at a time where other big teams from Europe are well aware of the financial bind the Catalans find themselves in. They must feel a goalie-swap deal plus a fee could entice Barça to sell.
Another reason is that the negotiations with Ter Stegen for a contract extension have stalled. The pandemic was cited as the reason why as the two sides were making progress on a new deal.
Ter Stegen is the clear number one at the club and alongside the likes of Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Gerard Pique, an important member of what makes up the spine of Barcelona. Entertaining a scenario that would see him leave would be out of the question in seasons prior.
While it still might be, it no longer is out of the questions given the uncertainty in the transfer market and not knowing fully how desperate the club is to bring in revenue.
Since arriving from Borussia Monchengladbach back in 2014, Ter Stegen not only integrated himself quickly into the team but to the city as well. He’s one of the reasons Barcelona even had a chance to win the league this season and has bailed them out countless times.
He possesses all the qualities they look for in a keeper. Coming to an agreement on a new deal should be high on their priority list. They can ill-afford to lose him no matter how much a club like Chelsea could be offering.