Report: Manchester City to Beat Liverpool to ter Stegen's Signature

Liverpool fans hoping that their beloved Klopp will soon be reaping the benefits of the Summer of Klopp were dealt their first major blow to that dream when news emerged late Wednesday that goalkeeper target Marc-Andre ter Stegen will be set to make Manchester his home in England's north west when he signs for City once the transfer window opens.

The Telegraph reports that while both Liverpool and Manchester City submitted formal bids to Barcelona for the player's services, the young German apparently favours an opportunity to work with the incoming Pep Guardiola rather than his fellow countryman Jürgen Klopp. Barcelona will pocket a cool £20m for their troubles, and England's number one Joe Hart will have to battle it out for top spot with the would be continental usurper.

It's disappointing news for Liverpool fans who thought both that they'd get an immediate upgrade between the sticks and that the draw of Klopp himself would be a major draw for players on the move. Players choosing the riches of City and one of the best managers in the game in Guardiola certainly shouldn't be seen as a slight on Liverpool or Klopp, but the sense that Liverpool were very much in the conversation of top destinations this summer due to Klopp's presence alone now feels a bit premature.

There's still time for City's alleged deal to fall apart, of course, as it's not yet April and stranger things have definitely and will continue to happen in the transfer window. For Liverpool fans, there's still the hope that Mario Götze's desire to move to Merseyside is still a Real Thing in the World™ and the importance of Klopp on that potential transfer is one that cannot be measured.