With Marc-Andre ter Stegen's loan move to AFC Ajax edging closer, albeit progressing slowly, Hansi Flick will soon need to decide who will serve as FC Barcelona's third-choice goalkeeper alongside Joan Garcia and Wojciech Szczesny.
Although the German goalkeeper's departure is expected to be finalised next week, the coaching staff are already planning the goalkeeping hierarchy for the season ahead.
As such, Mundo Deportivo reports that Barça's current preference is for either Áron Yaakobishvili or Eder Aller to complete the first-team goalkeeping group.
As previously reported , Barcelona's sporting department holds 18-year-old Iker Rodriguez in very high regard and he had been in contention for the third-choice role.
The Sabadell-born goalkeeper is under contract until 2027, with the club already planning to extend his deal.
Iker Rodriguez likely to play for Barça Atletic. (Picture credit: Instagram/@ikerrodriguez.01)
He has been training regularly with the first team during pre-season, but Barça believe his development will benefit more from consistent competitive football with Barça Atletic under Juliano Belletti.
The club are keen to avoid a situation where Rodriguez spends large parts of the season on the first-team bench and misses opportunities to play because of scheduling clashes between the senior side and the reserve team.
With that in mind, Yaakobishvili and Aller have emerged as the likeliest candidates to fill in as the third-choice goalkeeper with the first team.
At present, 20-year-old Hungarian starlet Yaakobishvili is training alongside Rodriguez with Flick's squad, while 19-year-old Aller has been working with Barça Atletic since the start of pre-season.
Yaakobishvili is understood to favour regular first-team football after enjoying a productive spell on loan at Andorra during the first half of last season.
Playing in Spain's Segunda Division , he made 21 league appearances before losing his place in the starting line-up from mid-February onwards.
Eder Aller could be the third-choice goalkeeper. (Photo courtesy: X/FCBarcelonaB)
Aller, meanwhile, spent much of last season around the senior squad without seeing significant action.
The teenager goalkeeper was named on Barcelona's bench for 16 La Liga matches under Flick and made only one appearance for Barça e, featuring on the opening day of the campaign. He also played three UEFA Youth League matches for the Under-19 side.
Rodriguez himself made 10 appearances for Barcelona's Under-19 team last season.
With five weeks remaining until the transfer window closes, Barcelona's coaching staff are expected to use the remainder of pre-season to determine which goalkeeper will complete the senior squad behind Garcia and Szczesny.
For now, Yaakobishvili and Aller appear to be the leading candidates, while Rodriguez's long-term development remains the club's priority.
