Barcelona Transfer News: Major Rumours on Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, Dani Alves

Barcelona’s young goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen is reportedly a target for Liverpool, as Brendan Rodgers looks to abate his perennial goalkeeping issues.

At the moment, the German stopper is behind Claudio Bravo in the Blaugrana pecking order. Although he’s featured in the Champions League and Copa del Rey, the former Borussia Monchengladbach man has expressed some concerns about not playing every week, per Marca:

"

I'm happy with the support I get from the public and with the work I do with my teammates. For now, the manager counts on me for the Cup and Champions League games, but I'd like to play in the league. I want La Liga, even if Bravo is doing a good job. 

"

David Ramos/Getty Images

While it would be especially unwise on the part of the Catalonians to let the youngster leave on a permanent deal, a loan to Merseyside—something that the Reds are looking into, per Ben Jefferson of the Express—could potentially help further his development.

Here’s a look at why Barcelona brought Ter Stegen to the Camp Nou last summer:

Bravo has been an astute acquisition for the Camp Nou club, and he’s a player that has been central to their excellent defensive record. But there are plenty who feel that it’s time for Ter Stegen to get a prolonged chance between the sticks, including Spanish football expert Moloch The Loveless, who has been blowing the German’s trumpet for a while now:

Encouragingly for the Barcelona faithful, manager Luis Enrique has claimed that the 22-year-old is going to see more first-team football, per Spanish football expert Sergi Dominguez.

Even if Ter Stegen doesn’t feature in La Liga action, he could still have a vital role to play for the Blaugrana this season. The club will be desperate to go far in both the Champions League and the Copa del Rey, and helping the team to glory in those competitions would do wonders for his progression.

David Ramos/Getty Images

Another player who has been linked with a move away from the Camp Nou is full-back Dani Alves. The situation surrounding the Brazilian’s contract at Barcelona remains unclear. According to Marc Williams of the Daily Star, Manchester United are subsequently “confident” on luring him to Old Trafford at the end of the season.

Here’s a look at why Alves has long been considered as one of the most important cogs in this successful Barcelona set-up:

On the face of things, this isn’t a transfer that makes much sense for either side. United already have a lot of players who are in the latter stages of their career. Although Alves would be an ideal figure to occupy the right wing-back berth in Louis van Gaal’s 3-5-2 system, the Red Devils are in need of an injection of youthful impetus in that position.

Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images

Barcelona will surely do their utmost to be keep hold of the player anyway, especially given their restrictions in the transfer market for the next 12 months. Enrique will be tasked with blooding a host of young players during this period of transfer abstinence, and experienced men in the squad—like Alves—will be key to expediting what can be a precarious process.

Subsequently, to lose him at the end of the season would be a major, major blow for the Blaugrana, especially with the future of second choice right-back Martin Montoya, whose contract expires at the end of the current campaign, also uncertain.