Ter Stegen’s preference to join the Guardiola revolution at City will leave Klopp looking elsewhere for a replacement for error-prone Simon Mignolet.

Meanwhile, City defender Martín Demichelis appeared to be preparing for a fight with the Football Association after being charged with misconduct in relation to betting on football.

Demichelis is accused of committing 12 breaches of FA rules prohibiting players from placing bets on any matches worldwide or gambling on other football-related activity.

Yet the 35-year-old raised the prospect of contesting the charge when he told ESPN FC radio: “When I arrive in England, I am going to talk with the lawyers about the charge I am accused of.”

There is no suggestion of Demichelis being involved in match-fixing or betting on matches in which he was involved. The betting offences are alleged to have occurred between Jan 22 and 28. City are hopeful he will avoid a ban that could rule him out of some or all of the club’s fixtures as they battle to finish in the top four.