Marc-Andre ter Stegen: Stunning swap deal emerges to give Ruben Amorim the transfer he desperately wants | OneFootball

Manchester United remain keen to sign a reliable goalkeeper.

That might sound like a not-so-funny joke to some United fans, especially after Senne Lammens’ brilliant debut against Sunderland last weekend.

Goalkeeper links

However, despite Lammens’ promising start, several reports claim United are still in the market for an experienced shot-stopper.

The ideal candidate would not only bring composure and leadership but also raise the standards of United’s goalkeeping department through healthy competition.

Top targets

A host of elite goalkeepers have been linked.

Mike Maignan, Emiliano Martinez, and Marc-Andre ter Stegen, some of Europe’s finest, are all reportedly on United’s radar.

While INEOS weigh up a move for one of the trio, an intriguing transfer proposal has sprung to mind, and it is worth sharing.

What if Barcelona proposed a Rashford-Ter Stegen swap?

Marcus Rashford has rediscovered his mojo in Catalonia.

In 10 games, the England international has bagged three goals and five assists, finding a new lease of life under Hansi Flick.

Barcelona would surely want to make the move permanent. They hold a £26.2 million option to do so next summer.

But with the club’s ongoing financial struggles, closing the deal could prove difficult. If they fail to act swiftly, Paris Saint-Germain may swoop in and beat them to Rashford’s signature.

Under threat of missing out, Barcelona could salvage the situation by offering Ter Stegen in exchange.

Ter Stegen out of favour at Barca

Barcelona’s summer signing, Joan Garcia, who was also a transfer target for United, has shifted the goalkeeping hierarchy.

Despite the young Spaniard being out with an injury, he is widely seen as the club’s first-choice keeper, thanks to assurances made when he signed. A string of impressive performances from him has justified these assurances.

Ter Stegen, meanwhile, has slipped down the pecking order. An injury controversy, he said one thing, the club another, only deepened the rift.

It has been a surprising fall from grace for a keeper who has won six La Liga titles with the club.

Now, the German is being linked with a move away. Premier League sides Newcastle and Tottenham Hotspur, alongside United, are clubs expressing interest.

A win-win swap deal

Rashford has no clear path back to United. Ter Stegen is surplus to requirements at Barcelona. United want a top-tier keeper.

Surely, the ingredients are there for a stunning swap deal that leaves all parties satisfied.

Though United may be wise to request Ter Stegen plus a Barça-friendly cash offer, one that could still bolster United’s transfer kitty.

Ultimately, with an experienced goalie sorted, it would allow the Red Devils to address other pressing needs, particularly in midfield, which remains in dire need of a rebuild.

Feature image Alex Caparros via Getty Images

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