dpAfter an indifferent loan spell at Girona, where he was largely sidelined due to surgery, Marc-Andre ter Stegen returns to Barcelona this summer continuing to face an uncertain future at the club.
In recent weeks, the German international has been linked with a move to Ajax, as their new coach Michel looks for a reunion with the goalkeeper.
Now, according to Mundo Deportivo, Ajax have taken the first concrete steps towards making that reunion a reality.
Ajax doing their homework
When Michel was appointed as Ajax’s new manager, one of his first requests to the club’s sporting directors was to explore the possibility of signing Ter Stegen.
The coach was impressed by the goalkeeper’s humility, leadership and professionalism during their time together at Girona, despite the injury that curtailed his involvement.
In response, Ajax began gathering information. Their primary concern, however, is not the transfer fee or wages, it is Ter Stegen’s physical condition.
Given his recent injury history, which includes two back injuries, a patellar tendon problem and the hamstring surgery he underwent on February 1st, the Amsterdam club want to be fully satisfied about his fitness before committing to anything.
The process is facilitated by the strong connections that exist between the two clubs. Jordi Cruyff, Michel and his coaching staff are all currently at Ajax, and all of them have established relationships with people inside Barcelona.
The timeline and Barcelona’s position
Ter Stegen is in the final stages of his recovery and Barcelona expect him to be cleared for preseason training on July 13.
As previously reported, the club view him as surplus to requirements, with Joan Garcia firmly established as the undisputed number one and Wojciech Szczesny as the recognised backup.
What makes the situation slightly complicated is that Ter Stegen may want to assess his own standing before committing to a move.
With Joan Garcia absent for the first preseason sessions due to his post-World Cup holiday, the German goalkeeper could find himself with a more prominent role in those early weeks, though he will find competition from others in the team.
Hansi Flick, however, made his position clear last season. Joan Garcia is his number one, and that is unlikely to change, with Wojciech Szczesny continuing as his alternative.
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