Marc-Andre ter Stegen: United handed clear message over January swoop for Barcelona keeper | OneFootball

Word on the street is that Manchester United are planning to sign another goalkeeper in 2026.

On deadline day, INEOS wrapped up the summer signing of Senne Lammens, opting for the young Belgian over Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez.

Lammens was not thrown straight into the thick of it, with Ruben Amorim continuing to rely on Altay Bayindir.

His initial omission sparked debate. Some believed Lammens was not Amorim’s preferred choice, with claims the Portuguese tactician wanted a more experienced figure between the sticks.

That uncertainty saw several of Europe’s top shot-stoppers linked with a move to Old Trafford.

Among them: Barcelona’s Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Ter Stegen’s uncertain future

Currently sidelined with an injury, Ter Stegen has lost his starting spot at Barca.

Over the summer, the Spanish giants signed Joan Garcia from Espanyol and handed him the number #1 jersey.

The young Spaniard has impressed enough to cement his place in goal for the reigning Spanish champions.

Ter Stegen’s future, meanwhile, looks increasingly bleak. Confusion over his injury; he said one thing, the club another, only added fuel to the fire.

That tricky situation led many to believe his time at Camp Nou was up.

Some even claimed he had played his final game for the Catalan heavyweights.

With little hope of a return and the 2026 FIFA World Cup looming, reports emerged suggesting Ter Stegen would seek a January exit to secure regular minutes and stake his claim for Germany’s starting spot.

United, keen to bolster their goalkeeping ranks, were reportedly preparing to battle league rivals for his signature.

Barca shut down transfer talk

But Barcelona have now issued a clear message regarding the 33-year-old.

“That’s not on the table,” said sporting director Deco in a chat with Mundo Deportivo (via Metro), when asked if Barca would consider letting Ter Stegen leave in January.

“Right now, we’ve been short on goalkeepers – we even had to bring [Diego] Kochen back from the Under-20 World Cup in Chile.

“If Marc were available, he’d be playing. He has a contract and that’s it.”

Defending the club’s stance, Deco added:

“Marc is a great goalkeeper, our captain, and still has plenty of history to write here at the age of 33.

“Signing Garcia wasn’t about replacing him – it was about reinforcing a position where we lacked depth.

“We wanted a young keeper for the present and future, not a 28 to 30-year-old for short-term results. That’s the reality. Sometimes issues here are made bigger than they really are.”

He also revealed Ter Stegen was not consulted over Garcia’s arrival:

“That’s not how it works – you don’t ‘explain’ signings to players. That’s not the case here.”

With Ter Stegen off the table, United will now turn their attention elsewhere. Names like Mike Maignan and Martinez remain in the mix.

Lammens could save United millions

That said, Lammens may yet prove to be the long-term solution.

His brilliant debut in the 2–0 win over Sunderland hinted at real promise. Calm, commanding, and composed, he looked ready to play a key role at Old Trafford.

With reports suggesting Amorim sees him as a “Courtois 2.0” and a future pillar of United’s defence, the Belgian could well change minds before the transfer window re-opens.

And with United’s midfield in need of urgent reinforcement, if Lammens lives up to his billing, funds earmarked for a new goalkeeper might be better spent overhauling the engine room.

Feature image Alex Caparros via Getty Images

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