‘Stubborn’ Marc-Andre ter Stegen rejects Premier League transfer as major World Cup warning issued

West Ham have had an ambitious move to sign Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen on loan rejected, talkSPORT understands.

The Hammers are carrying out an extensive search to sign a new No.1 this month and sounded out Barca for the German.

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But Ter Stegen is not interested in the switch to the Premier League, and he is instead going to remain in La Liga.

He is set to join fellow Spanish side Girona on loan this month.

West Ham fail in Ter Stegen bid

The 33-year-old goalkeeper has not played a single league game this season, having lost his starting place to Joan Garcia.

Garcia, who signed for Barcelona in the summer from Espanyol, has started every game in the La Liga and the Champions League.

European football expert Andy Brassell told talkSPORT.com last month: “Ter Stegen’s been really stubborn about his future prospects.

“He has always believed in himself to get back into the team.

“He has felt that even though he was hugely demoted with Joan Garcia being first choice and Wojciech Szczęsny being second, to Ter Stegen, it was pretty clear that he felt that Barcelona management did him dirty.

“It was always clear in public that he still loved the fans and loved the club and all the rest of it.

“I think the other thing that makes it complicated for Ter Stegen is he’s on enormous wages, and that is one of the reasons that Barcelona would love to get rid of him.”

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World Cup place at stake

Ter Stegen’s only appearance came in the Copa del Rey in December, when he kept a clean sheet against third-tier side CD Guadalajara.

He has played over 400 games for Barca across the last 12 years, but it appears his long career at the club is up.

Brassell added: “If he wants to get ahead of Oliver Baumann and into the Germany team for the World Cup, he needs to play.

“There’s no two ways about that. But because of his wages and because a lot of elite teams have decided on their goalkeeper, it’s really difficult to find a spot for him.

“And because he’s not played in the Premier League before, you always think there’s that little bit of adaptation where you’ve got to get used to the physicality of it, the physicality that a lot of goalkeepers really, really struggle with.”

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Also Barca captain, Ter Stegen’s departure will mark the end of an impressive spell, during which he won a huge amount of silverware.

He won six La Liga titles with the club, while also lifting the Champions League and six Spanish Cups.

West Ham were keen to add that incredible experience and talent to their squad, but the move has not materialised.

And the rejection leaves them still searching for another ‘keeper.

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West Ham’s goalkeeper conundrum

The Hammers signed Mads Hermansen from Leicester City last summer, but the move has not worked out well.

After starting the first four Premier League games of the season, Hermansen has not made an appearance since.

His only game since September came in the FA Cup against QPR on January 11, with Nuno Espirito Santo sticking with Alphonse Areola.

Areola has played every league game under Espirito Santo; however, West Ham appear keen to replace him in the transfer window.

It seems that Hermansen won’t be considered to step back up, leaving his future in London looking bleak, too.

So, after missing out on Ter Stegen, the Hammers are going to have to move on to other targets if they want another No.1.

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‘We will respect his decision’

After rejecting a move to West Ham, a switch to Girona appears to be happening for Ter Stegen this winter instead.

But manager Flick has remained coy on his future, saying on Saturday: “I don’t have any more information.

“As far as I’m concerned, he’s in the team tomorrow.”

He added, hinting that it is Ter Stegen’s wish to leave: “It’s his decision and what he wants for the future.

“Of course, we’ve talked in recent days and weeks, but this is Deco’s job and we have to prepare for tomorrow’s game.

“Meanwhile, Marc is a Barca player, captain, and has been very important for the last 10 years, but we will respect his decision and whatever he wants.”