Barcelona have made left-back Alejandro Balde available for transfer, potentially altering Manchester United’s plans in the summer window, according to reports from Marca. The development comes as United were increasingly focused on a deal to bring Lewis Hall from Newcastle United to Old Trafford.
United had been pursuing Hall, with a reported valuation of around £60 million, as part of their efforts to reinforce the left-back position. However, Barcelona’s decision to offer Balde, 22, for a fee of approximately €50 million (£43 million), presents a potentially more affordable option. This is roughly £17 million less than the anticipated cost of acquiring Hall from Newcastle.
Balde has been with Barcelona since 2021, progressing through the club’s youth system before establishing himself as a regular in the first team. The Spain international has made 53 appearances for the Catalan giants, contributing with three assists. However, a recent injury disrupted his progress, and Barcelona are now seemingly open to his departure.
Barcelona are reportedly considering Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella as a replacement for Balde should a transfer materialise. Cucurella has requested to leave Stamford Bridge, and the Blues are willing to entertain offers. Fabrizio Romano reported that Cucurella is keen on a return to Spain, with Barcelona a potential destination.
United’s initial shortlist of left-back targets included Nathaniel Brown, Lewis Hall, and Alejandro Balde. Brown is now set to join Bayern Munich, and with Balde now available, the club may reassess their priorities. The shift in focus could allow United to allocate funds elsewhere, potentially towards bolstering their midfield options, with players like Mateus Fernandes, Alex Scott, and Sandro Tonali also under consideration. A move for Elliot Anderson is now off the table, with Manchester City offering a substantial package for the Newcastle midfielder.
Should Balde join Manchester United, it would provide competition for Luke Shaw in the left-back role and offer tactical flexibility to Erik ten Hag. The lower transfer fee compared to Hall could also allow United to invest further in other areas of the squad.
