Manchester United is preparing an €40m bid to sign a key Barcelona defender, intensifying speculation over a major defensive transfer.
Manchester United have entered another tense transfer subplot with Barcelona as both clubs prepare for a pivotal summer reshuffle.
The Premier League side, under pressure to refresh an unconvincing backline, has been scouring Europe for an athletic, attacking left-back capable of redefining their flank.
At the same time, Barcelona is juggling Financial Fair Play demands, Joan Laporta’s sporting promises, and a squad that still feels unbalanced despite La Masia’s latest wave.
With Hansi Flick demanding both reliability and dynamism out wide, one name has inevitably attracted attention from Old Trafford.
Manchester United are plotting a €40m move for Barcelona defender Alejandro Balde, who has emerged as a serious target for the English club.
The 22-year-old left-back, under contract until 2028, has seen his status wobble this season due to form dips and competition, opening a window United are keen to exploit.
Mundo Deportivo reports that United have “irrupted onto the scene” for Balde, placing him firmly on their agenda as they look for a long-term solution on the left side of defence.
For Barcelona, Balde’s situation is delicate. Once seen as Jordi Alba’s natural heir, his trajectory has been disrupted by inconsistency and the team’s overall instability, even as his ceiling remains extremely high.
Internally, the club must decide whether to bank on his resurgence or cash in at a time when his market value is still strong.
Manchester United, meanwhile, view Balde as the kind of explosive, modern full-back who can transform their left flank in both phases of play.
As the season moves towards its decisive stretch, this emerging €40m storyline could become one of the summer’s defining negotiations between two European giants with very different financial realities.
Want to get the latest Barcelona news direct to your phone? Join our WhatsApp community by clicking here.
