Barcelona face a goalkeeping headache as all three loaned stoppers lose their starting spots | OneFootball

Barcelona’s summer planning is set to extend beyond outfield positions, with the club facing a significant headache in the goalkeeping department heading into the transfer window.

With Joan Garcia firmly established as Hansi Flick’s first choice and Szczesny occupying the backup role, the situation for Barcelona’s three loaned goalkeepers has taken an unexpected and complicated turn.

A problem across the board

As reported by Mundo Deportivo, all three goalkeepers currently out on loan have lost their starting positions at their respective clubs, leaving Deco with a difficult set of decisions to navigate this summer.

Inaki Pena, 27, who is under contract with Barcelona until 2029, began the season as the undisputed number one at Elche.

However, the Spaniard lost his place in January following a string of individual errors compounded by the team’s poor collective performances, and has since been reduced to a backup role.

Inaki Pena has struggled to impress on loan to Elche. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Ander Astralaga, 22, was loaned to Granada last summer until June 2026, but his season has been hampered by ankle problems.

After returning from injury to fill in for the sidelined Luca Zidane, the results were not good enough to keep him in the side, and he, too, ended up on the bench. A departure from Granada at the end of the season appears likely.

The most positive case of the three is Aron Yaakobishvili, who had been a regular starter at Andorra before a tactical decision cost him his place.

Despite losing his spot, Barcelona’s internal reports on the young Georgian remain encouraging, with the club reportedly considering integrating him into the first-team preseason.

With Ter Stegen still sidelined through injury and Szczesny’s future uncertain, Deco must now untangle a goalkeeping situation this coming summer.