Brighton and Hove Albion goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen should be the man that Bayern Munich target to replace Manuel Neuer.
That’s according to journalist Achim Stecker in SportBILD, who believes the Brighton goalkeeper is the ideal long-term replacement for the Bayern veteran.
The 38-year-old is out of contract in June next year and it remains to be seen whether he will extend his playing career beyond that point.
All indications at this point are that he won’t, with Neuer having hinted more than once that he is ready to bring his trophy laden spell with German champions and the national team to an end.
Calls for him to do so have certainly increased at the beginning of this season as a series of ropey performances under Vincent Kompany, particularly in big defeats such as the one against Barcelona, have led to criticism.
Stecker thinks there should be a different plan, though, one that would see Verbruggen brought in from Brighton.
“Manuel Neuer has done great things, no question about it but his best days are over,” he said.
“Currently the Bayern goalkeeper only saves about half of the balls in the Bundesliga. His aura has suffered. The strikers’ respect for the once best keeper in the world is gone.
“When his contract runs out in the summer, Neuer will be 39. He will certainly not get any better, and that is why the record champions, who also have the ambition to play at the top internationally, should get a goalkeeper with a future.
“I would bet less on Alexander Nubel, but rather on Bart Verbruggen. 22 years young, 1.94 meters tall. Dutchman in the service of Brighton. Someone who, like Neuer, is strong on the ball and can play the Kompany concept with high defenders.
“Holland’s national goalkeeper is referred to as the number ten from the back. His market value is €22m. Cheap for a Neuer successor.”
