According to the Spanish newspaper Sport, FC Barcelona and Iñaki Peña are in the process of facilitating a loan move for the goalkeeper in the next winter market with Ronald Koeman set to give the move the blessing he denied in the summer.
The 22-year-old has so far not managed a single minute with the first team this season whilst only appearing twice for the B team. A loan move elsewhere in the winter appeals to him not only because of the chance to play a greater role in the second half of the season but to also allow for him to have a more fixed situation in the future.
Iñaki Peña had several proposals in the summer that appealed to him however manager Ronald Koeman vetoed the move citing the injury and impending surgery of Marc-André ter Stegen as well as the need for the squad to have 3 goalkeepers for the start of the season as reasons for his decision. These circumstances applied to fellow goalkeeper Neto who also wanted a change of scenery but did not receive offers deemed satisfactory to Barça.
Iñaki Peña joined Barça a year after he was chosen as the best goalkeeper of the Arona tournament in 2011, having been courted by Villareal the Alicante stopper was determined in his dream to play for the Blaugrana and eventually in 2012 joined La Masia. In his first season between the posts of the Barça Under-14 team, he won the league and was one of the keys to the team. His skill and play allowed him to grow as a player until he reached Barça B in the 2018/19 season. Since then, Iñaki Peña has been alternating games for the reserves with work as part of the first team.
At the culmination of the summer window, Peña was told his situation would be assessed in January which marks the start of the winter window. At this point in time, it is clear from the Goalkeepers camp that the scenario remains the same; he needs minutes and will not be getting them at Barça, in the immediate future at least. With ter Stegen full fit following surgery, both the club and Ronald Koeman are much more committed to listening to the wishes of their young goalkeeper.
The preference of Peña is to remain in Laliga and several clubs within the league are believed to be interested. However, a lot can change between now and December as evidenced by one of his summer suitors Granada, no longer being an option for the winter window.
