Manchester United has reportedly received a major boost in their hunt for a new full-back, as transfer target Alejandro Balde has reportedly given the go-ahead for talks about his exit from Barcelona.
According to reports from SPORT, the 20-year-old left-back has officially authorized his agent, Jorge Mendes, to explore a move away from the Catalan giants. While clubs from England, Portugal, and Italy are reportedly monitoring the situation, Manchester United is said to be the player's preferred destination.
Mendes has apparently already briefed Balde on United's interest, and the Spanish international is keen on a switch to the Premier League. Barcelona is reportedly seeking a transfer fee in the region of €40 million to €50 million to approve a sale before the transfer window slams shut.
Speculation about Balde's departure intensified after manager Hansi Flick dropped him from Barcelona's squad for their opening La Liga match against Elche. Flick commented on his selection strategy, stating he would only utilize players fully committed to the club. Balde's exclusion appears to confirm that Barcelona is actively working on his exit to streamline their squad and raise much-needed funds.
Manchester United has been prioritizing the signing of a dynamic left-back to solve persistent depth and injury problems alongside Luke Shaw. Newcastle United's Lewis Hall has been a key target on their radar. However, with Newcastle reportedly unwilling to sell and valuing Hall at a hefty price tag exceeding £68m-£70m, United seems to have shifted its focus to Balde as a potentially more affordable, high-potential alternative.
As United finalizes its midfield rebuild, securing Balde would offer Erik ten Hag's squad an elite, high-upside option to solidify their defense.
