Barcelona must resolve goalkeeper exits before moving for La Liga veteran – report | OneFootball

The goalkeeping department at Barcelona is overcrowded at the moment, and Deco will be keen to prune it and establish a defined hierarchy this summer.

There is no doubt that Joan Garcia is, and will remain, the number one for Hansi Flick, but the futures of Wojciech Szczesny, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Inaki Pena, Ander Astralaga, Diego Kochen and Aron Yaakobishvili all need to be sorted.

Now, according to SPORT, Barcelona’s interest in Real Sociedad shot-stopper Alex Remiro appears to be real, but they must first untangle their complicated goalkeeping situation.

Ter Stegen’s future remains blocked due to his high salary and persistent injuries, while Pena could look to leave again, either on loan or permanently, in search of regular game time.

Loan deals could also be on the cards for some of the younger shot-stoppers on the list, as they look to play regularly and develop into options for the Catalan club in the future.

Alex Remiro is on Barcelona’s agenda. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

That leaves Barcelona in a familiar position: interested in a useful market opportunity, but unable to act freely until the squad structure changes.

Remiro open to Barça move

Remiro’s willingness to consider a move to Barcelona, despite knowing that he would be behind Joan in the pecking order, is quite significant.

Incidentally, it was Joan who pipped Remiro to a Spain berth for the World Cup, with Luis de la Fuente preferring the younger option.

He is experienced in La Liga, reliable with the ball at his feet and can deputise for Joan without a massive drop-off in quality.

At times this season, Szczesny was called upon to replace the injured number one, and the Polish veteran did not look at the level Barcelona would require from a deputy at their club.

Still, the player’s openness to a move is only part of the equation. It is also worth noting that he has a contract renewal on the table from his current club.

Barcelona need clarity first

Ter Stegen does not have a future at Barcelona. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Barcelona cannot afford to keep stocking goalkeepers in an already bloated department. A lot will depend on an exit for club captain Ter Stegen.

From a Barça perspective, the priority should be order. Decide who stays, who leaves and what role the next goalkeeper would actually have.

Remiro may be interested, but instead of spending a fee to bring him to the club, Deco could choose to go with someone like Pena, who is more than talented enough to be Garcia’s deputy.

This is not a transfer situation that is going to sort itself out within a few days, and it could take until the very end of the summer transfer window to understand what the goalkeeping situation at Barça looks like next season.