Newcastle United have been offered the chance to sign Barcelona stopper Marc Andre Ter-Stegen on loan, TBR Football can exclusively reveal – and it could be a deal that works well for both parties if he makes the move to St. James’ Park. However, it could spell the beginning of the end for Nick Pope.
Magpies boss Eddie Howe had a frantic summer transfer window to say the least. Newcastle’s summer transfer window was dominated by Alexander Isak’s £125million move to Liverpool, a saga that went right down to the wire.
However, they did manage to sign Nick Woltemade from Stuttgart, as well as Yoane Wissa, Malick Thiaw and Jacob Ramsey ahead of the Premier League season.
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Yet their season’s incomings may not stop there, with Barcelona stopper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen being touted for a move to St. James’ Park in the January transfer window, but it could spell the end of Nick Pope’s tenure on Tyneside.
Marc-Andre Ter Stegen looking on during a Barcelona game
Photo by Chris Ricco – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
Exclusive: Newcastle offered Marc-Andre Ter Stegen in January loan deal
TBR Football understands that Marc-Andre Ter Stegen has been offered to a number of Premier League teams, including Newcastle.
Barcelona are ready to sanction a loan move in the January transfer window, given that he is behind Wojciech Szczesny and young goalkeeper Joan Garcia in the pecking order.
Player Barcelona appearances this season La Liga appearances since August 2024 La Liga clean sheets since August 2024
Joan Garcia 7 44 11
Wojciech Szczesny 5 18 8
Marc-Andre Ter Stegen 0 8 1
Having had back surgery, and with two-and-a-half years left on his deal, Barcelona are willing to get rid of him, and first-team football is imperative with the World Cup finals coming up next summer.
Newcastle have been informed that Ter Stegen is available on loan, which could be of major benefit to them.
TBR Football’s chief correspondent Graeme Bailey said: “Ter Stegen is expected to be fully fit by December. Indeed, I am told he is not too far away, but he knows there is no room for him at Barcelona – they have already moved on.
“Intermediaries have been given the green light to look at prospective moves around Europe, and the Premier League is a destination he would seriously consider.
“Ter Stegen is world-class, and if there is a chance to bolster your ranks with a player of this calibre for the second half of the season, I think he is a fascinating option for a number of sides in January.”
Whilst Aaron Ramsdale joined Newcastle in the summer, he is only on a loan deal with an option to buy, and so there is no obligation to continue his St. James’ Park career.
Ramsdale is seen as Nick Pope’s backup, but Ter Stegen coming in would add real quality for Newcastle and if they are to qualify for the Champions League, it would be a huge opportunity to take and push Pope down the pecking order.
Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe looks disgruntled after loss to Arsenal
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
World Cup year could benefit both Newcastle and Ter Stegen in January – though it would harm Nick Pope
The 2026 World Cup is just eight months away, leaving players across the globe scrambling to find first-team opportunities if they aren’t getting them already.
Marc-Andre Ter Stegen is one of those. Not only is he not getting into the Barcelona team, but that has allowed others to keep him out of the Germany national team.
It could well be last chance saloon for Ter Stegen to play at an international tournament. Despite 44 caps for Germany, with at least one appearance in 12 years out of 14 since 2012, it’s always been Manuel Neuer who has been favoured in major tournaments – with the Bayern Munich legend featuring in every game since World Cup 2010.
However, Neuer retired from international football in 2024, and that has seen a whole host of new players rotate under Julian Nagelsmann. Ter Stegen undoubtedly has the most experience of any of the newfound options, and at the age of just 31, he won’t have a better chance to feature on the big stage.
Nick Pope doesn’t have a realistic chance of ousting Jordan Pickford from England’s number one spot, despite Pope being named as ‘absolutely unbelievable’ by Three Lions legend Ian Wright during his peak at Burnley, when he was involved heavily in the England squad.
That could punt him down the pecking order, and Ter Stegen’s need for minutes would work well for all parties.