Barcelona Transfer News: Major Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, Manchester City Rumours

Manchester City are reportedly "on the verge" of sealing a move for Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

According to Matt Law in the Telegraph, both Liverpool and City have made bids for the German stopper, but Ter Stegen "favours teaming up with incoming manager Pep Guardiola in Manchester."

The report added that the Sky Blues will pay around £20 million for the 23-year-old, a potential steal considering his immense ability.

He has spent much of his time at Barca playing second fiddle to Claudio Bravo—the undisputed No. 1 for La Liga matches—but Ter Stegen has shown in cup games that he is a star of the future.

He is already a UEFA Champions League winner having played every minute of Barca's triumphant campaign in 2014-15—Ter Stegen's first season at the club after his €12 million (£9.7 million) move from Borussia Monchengladbach in May 2014—per WhoScored.com.

But he has previously indicated that he wants more first-team action, per German outlet sport1.de (h/t PA Sport, via Sky Sports):

"

I'm not considering myself with other clubs because the situation doesn't currently oblige me to. 

Football is my job and all that matters is the present, the next game. I am not going to be wasting time considering what I do next. Barca are a great club and things can still change between now and the summer.

If the situation remains the way it is at the moment, however, then we're definitely going to have to talk—there's no avoiding that.

"

Joe Hart is the current No. 1 at City, and Ter Stegen will have to work hard to prove that he is worthy of a starting place ahead of the Englishman if he moves to City.

However, it is unsurprising that he seemingly prefers a move to work under Guardiola at City than a switch to Liverpool.

Per Law, he is not the first to make such a choice, with Borussia Dortmund's Ilkay Gundogan having already reportedly opted for "Guardiola and City over Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool ahead of the summer transfer window."

Indeed, Bleacher Report's Dean Jones believes it is "very likely" that Gundogan will join Guardiola at City:

The Spanish coach is widely considered the best tactician in the world, and given the strength of City's squad, he should turn them into a major Premier League and Champions League force.

Ter Stegen could be a key part of that as he has huge amounts of potential, with Bleacher Report's German football writer, Clark Whitney, going as far as comparing him to Bayern Munich's Manuel Neuer:

Ter Stegen is very comfortable on the ball, a potentially vital skill for Guardiola who likes to begin plays from deep.

The Germany international would have more chance of claiming the No. 1 spot from Simon Mignolet if he moved to Liverpool, but his prospects will be better if he does indeed make the switch to City.

Hart is a top-quality goalkeeper, but with the arrival of Guardiola, no player will be guaranteed their place in the City side.

If Ter Stegen can impress early at the Etihad Stadium, he could become the long-term No. 1 for Guardiola's City.