Barcelona are going through a difficult period in terms of goalkeeping, as it began to prevail inside Barcelona after the shocking injury suffered by Marc-Andre ter Stegen in yesterday’s match against Villarreal in the sixth round of the Spanish League.
The match ended with a big win for Barcelona over Villarreal by five goals, but the injury of goalkeeper Ter Stegen spoiled the atmosphere inside Barcelona, especially after the player’s injury was diagnosed and his season with Barcelona officially ended.
According to information received from the newspaper El Nacional, among the names circulating in football circles, the name of Bart Verbruggen stands out, the young Dutch goalkeeper who is currently shining in the English Premier League.
At the age of twenty-two, Verbruggen has proven himself as one of the most prominent talents in European football, as he has become a mainstay in the ranks of Brighton and has remarkable abilities in controlling the penalty area, agility, and safety in dealing with aerial balls, which made him compared to Thibaut Courtois, one of the most prominent goalkeepers in the world.
Hansi Flick gave the green light to begin the process of signing Verbruggen after Ter Stegen’s injury, believing he has the qualities to succeed at Barcelona, including quick reactions and the ability to handle the ball under pressure. Meanwhile, Deco, who is in charge of the sporting directorate, has been working hard to complete the deal before competition from other clubs increases.
However, Barcelona face significant challenges, as Brighton have Verbruggen under contract until 2028, meaning the English club are in no rush to part ways with their star player.
The deal is expected to be worth around €40m, which is significantly higher than the €20m Brighton paid for him last summer. However, the Catalan club believe this financial investment will be worthwhile in securing a quality goalkeeper for the future.
Hansi Flick has made it clear he wants to sign a goalkeeper urgently after Ter Stegen’s injury, which puts additional pressure on Deco and the club’s board to find a way to secure Verbruggen.