Man Utd and Man City make inquiry over £47m Barcelona star as transfer tug-of-war emerges

Manchester United and Manchester City have reportedly taken the first steps towards signing a Barcelona wonderkid who could excel in England.

There are now just seven rounds of fixtures left for most Premier League clubs this season, with battles both at the top and bottom of the table still ongoing.

Despite this, with the end of the season in sight, both fans and clubs themselves will already be looking ahead to what will no doubt be a busy summer of transfer business.

While many of the best players will be representing their countries at the World Cup, clubs will be working hard to prepare for the 2026/27 season.

And it appears that local rivals Manchester United and Manchester City are among the clubs that have already began preparing for the transfer window, as they have reportedly both identified a Barcelona star as one of their top targets.

According to a report from Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, United and City have both made initial inquires about 22-year-old Barcelona star Alejandro Balde, with the clubs considering a formal offer in the summer.

And they're not the only Premier League clubs said to be interested, as Aston Villa are also said to have a strong interest in the youngster.

Balde is a key player for Barcelona. (Image: Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

However, a deal for the La Masia graduate would be far from easy and would certainly demand a big fee, with Balde's current deal keeping him at Barcelona until June 2028.

According to Transfermarkt, Balde is currently valued at around £47million, but this price could certainly rise should Barcelona feel that the player is in high demand.

The report states that Barcelona currently have no intention of selling the defender, but would consider doing so if a substantial offer were to arrive due to the the club's current financial situation.

But, sources close to the player told the outlet that Balde is not currently considering leaving Barcelona, despite being made aware of the strong interest from Premier League sides for some time.

Instead, he hopes to remain at the Catalan club and establish himself as a key player having already secured a spot as Hansi Flick's first-choice left-back, with a muscle injury suffered in the Copa del Rey semi-final keeping him sidelined at the moment.

Thankfully for Balde, it is believed that his close relationship with Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal would work in his favour should the club make it clear that they are considering a big offer from United, City, Villa or any other club this summer.