Barça postpone Ter Stegen renewal talks after failing to strike deal
For now, there's no agreement after club offered extension until 2024
Along with renewing Lionel Messi, tying Marc-Andre ter Stegen down to a new contract until 2024 is a priority for Barcelona.
They want the goalkeeper to be with the club for many more years but negotiations over a new deal have stopped, coinciding with the coronavirus crisis.
There is no agreement and sources at Barça recognise "it will be hard" to reach one, although both parties are obliged to come to an understanding.
Both the club and the player have made it clear they want to agree a new contract, it's now a matter of reaching a compromise at a delicate moment for the club economically.
Barça have met several times with the club's people. In the last meeting, at the beginning of March, they made an offer until 2024 worth 6.5 million euros per season, plus bonuses.
The German said 'no' to the proposal based on the fact players that play less than him have renewed for more money in recent years. He just wants to feel valued for the key player that he has become.
The relationship remains good, all parties have behaved well, and Barça are studying the situation, although they don't have much room to work with.
What's certain is any new deal now won't come into effect until after the summer, when the new financial year starts. The club are seeking formulas.
There are no alarm bells, though, Ter Stegen has a deal until 2022 and a release clause worth 180 million euros. He's well tied down, but it would be dangerous to let the situation drag on. President Josep Maria Bartomeu has given the order to renew his deal.
