In one of the more unexpected transfer stories of the week, Tottenham Hotspur see themselves linked with Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen. The German international, widely regarded as one of the top keepers in Europe over the past decade, draws interest ahead of the January window. Alongside Spurs, Manchester United and Newcastle are also lurking in the situation.

That’s according to Sport. The link comes as something of a surprise. Spurs signed Guglielmo Vicario just over a year ago, and the Italian has been a strong performer overall despite some criticism about his command of set pieces. Vicario is clearly a part of the long term project under Thomas Frank, making talk of a move for Ter Stegen hard to believe at face value.

The 33-year-old’s contract runs until 2028 (Transfermarkt). That makes a mid-season exit hugely unlikely, particularly given the financial hurdles any Premier League club would have to clear to prise him away. What seems more realistic is that the Catalan media are applying pressure on a player who has suffered a drop in form. With criticism mounting at Camp Nou, stories like this do little more than fuel the idea of a possible departure, even if the reality...