Liverpool and Man Utd encouraged as £40 million target clearly out of favour at Barcelona

While football clubs understand that the transfer window is closed and will not be opening until January, the recruitment team will be scouting out what deals can be done to strengthen their respective squads.

Liverpool and Manchester United will be keen to add to their squads, with players being brought in to improve the team with quality, while also allowing their managers to have an increase in numbers.

Now, the North-West rivals appear to be battling it out for a Barcelona star who is clearly out of favour, as seen in the Catalan side’s most recent game in La Liga.

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Liverpool and Manchester United encouraged in pursuit of £40 million target

Man United have struggled at the start of the current Premier League campaign under Michael Carrick, having secured only one victory from their opening six games.

The Red Devils appear to need further strengthening despite adding heavily to their midfield and attack over the past two seasons.

Now it appears Carrick and the recruitment team have set their sights on defensive additions, as they are linked to Barcelona’s Alejandro Balde.

According to a report from El Nacional Cat, United are interested in bringing the left-back to Old Trafford, while their Premier League rivals Liverpool were also mentioned as having an interest in him.

Carrick’s side may be the club chasing him harder, as Andoni Iraola currently has two international left-backs as options at Liverpool. United have a 31-year-old Luke Shaw who has a history of injuries in recent seasons.

Yet, both sides will be encouraged by the latest developments coming out of the Camp Nou, as despite all of Flick’s other options at left-back having been involved over the international break, while he remained in Barcelona, he did not get a look in for the Catalan side’s victory over Getafe.

According to reports in AS Diario, there was surprise that Flick did not give the Spanish fullback any minutes against the club from Madrid as Barcelona overcame the challenge with ease, meaning they could have rested players ahead of their midweek Champions League clash with Galatasaray.

Balde has only featured in 17 minutes this season, so it is clear he is not part of Flick’s plans and so he the club may look to cash in on him, with it expected to cost £40 million.

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Alejandro Balde’s Barcelona career

The Spanish international joined the Catalan club when he was a youth, coming through the La Masia system. Before playing for the senior club, he impressed with Barcelona B across two campaigns.

Balde would make his debut against Real Sociedad in the 2021-22 season, making a total of five appearances in this campaign. He would be a regular in the team across the next four seasons, claiming three La Liga titles.

His performances would help earn a contract extension in 2024, and his importance to the team was seen as the club included a one-billion-euro release clause.

At the peak of his time at the club, some went so far as to say he was the best left-back in the world, with a report from Spanish outlet AS following Barcelona's 1-0 win over Real Madrid in March 2023 singing his praises.

"If he isn't already the best left-back in the world, he's certainly close," the report claimed.

However, now he appears to be heading for the exit door after 169 appearances for Barcelona at the age of 22.