Ellie Roebuck to Barcelona? Interest in Man City’s out-of-favour goalkeeper ‘no surprise’ as former team-mate sets Mary Earps and England ‘challenge’

Interest from Barcelona in Ellie Roebuck has come as "no surprise" to one former team-mate, who believes she can battle Mary Earps to be England No.1.

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• Barca-linked Roebuck could leave Man City
• Former team-mate unsurprised by interest
• Sets her Earps and England 'challenge'

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Roebuck hasn’t made a single appearance for Manchester City so far this season, having lost her spot to talented teenager Khiara Keating. However, despite that, the 24-year-old has reportedly drawn interest from the European champions, who are going to be looking for a goalkeeper in the summer following the news that Sandra Panos will leave the club. Roebuck, too, is set to be out of contract at the end of the campaign.

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• WHAT WAS SAID

  Speaking to GOAL about her former England and Man City team-mate’s situation, Izzy Christiansen said: “Fundamentally, if you break it all down, I think you're looking at a goalkeeper who is incredibly talented and she's not going to lose that. Whatever happens for her, I think the challenge has to be to stay in touch with Mary Earps at England, wherever that is, if she moves or if she stays. But you've got a fantastic professional in Ellie Roebuck and a player who's got an incredible amount of talent. I just wish her the best and that hopefully whatever the future looks like will be a bright one for her.”

  Asked if the links to Barca didn’t come as a surprise, then, given her belief in Roebuck’s talent, Christiansen said: “I wasn't surprised at all. She is a player who could play for Barcelona if you break down her ability as a goalkeeper and her strengths playing out from the back with her feet and her distribution. You've got a player there who could easily fit into a Man City side or a Barcelona side. Whatever happens in the summer with her, I hope it's a good one.”

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  It was only a couple of years ago that Roebuck looked set to be England’s No.1 for years to come, with her becoming first-choice in the months just before Sarina Wiegman’s arrival. However, a calf injury set her back significantly and, in that time, Earps established herself as an outstanding first-choice. With gametime lacking at club level, Roebuck has since lost her place in the England squad altogether, making a transfer this summer look all the more likely.

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Like Keating’s rise to Man City’s No.1 this season, Roebuck was only a teenager herself when she usurped an established England international, in Karen Bardsley, to become the club’s first-choice goalkeeper. She was still only 22 years old when she made her 100th appearance for the Cityzens.