Celta Vigo could launch the offensive for Inaki Pena, with Luis Campos keen on starting his project at the La Liga club by signing the Barcelona prospect.
According to a report by Spanish publication AS, Inaki Pena is the subject of interest from Celta Vigo over a possible move in the summer transfer window. The Andalusian club’s incoming director of football Luis Campos admires the Barcelona prospect, and his contract situation makes him an appealing target.
Inaki Pena spent his formative years at three clubs, including Valencia, before graduating from FC Barcelona’s famed academy, La Masia, in 2018. Now 23, the Alicante native is yet to make his first-team bow for Barcelona, spending most of the last four years with Barcelona B.
The Blaugrana sent Pena out on loan to Galatasaray in the January transfer window to gain crucial first-team experience. And the Spanish prospect has taken his opportunities with both hands, producing several noteworthy performances in the last few months at Nef Stadyumu.
The 23-year-old was notably a standout performer when Barcelona played out a goalless draw with Galatasaray in the UEFA Europa League last month. Pena has made eight appearances for the Turkish club thus far, conceding 11 goals while keeping one clean sheet.
Following Fernando Muslera’s return to fitness, Pena has become the backup goalkeeper for Domenec Torrent. But the Barcelona prospect has made enough of an impression to capture the attention of one of the clubs in La Liga, with Celta Vigo keen on signing him in the summer transfer window.
The Andalusian club will lose the services of Matias Dituro in the summer transfer window when the 34-year-old’s loan deal expires. Pena has thus emerged as a viable target for Celta Vigo, with incoming director of football Luis Campos looking to start his project by signing the Spanish prospect from Barcelona.
Pena’s Barcelona contract will expire on June 30, 2023, meaning the summer transfer window might be one of their last opportunities to cash in on him. But the Blaugrana will likely want to keep hold of the 23-year-old, with Neto expected to depart from Camp Nou amid interest from Aston Villa and Everton. But it will be interesting to see if Celta Vigo can prise the Spaniard away from fellow La Liga club Barcelona.