Manchester United make contact over Alejandro Balde as Barcelona consider £16m alternative

Manchester United have opened communication with Jorge Mendes about a possible move for Barcelona left-back Alejandro Balde, while also assessing a significantly cheaper option at Racing Santander.

Barcelona have authorised Mendes, who represents Balde, to explore a new destination for the Spain international as uncertainty grows over the 22-year-old’s future at the Catalan club.

Balde was left out of Barcelona’s squad for Sunday evening’s match against Elche at the Martinez Valero, providing another indication that discussions over a potential departure are under way.

The defender’s name has attracted interest from clubs in England, Portugal and Italy, but Manchester United is believed to be the destination that appeals to him most, according to Catalan newspaper Sport.

One factor behind Balde’s change in stance is competition from Joao Cancelo. Balde spent the summer insisting that he wanted to remain at Barcelona, but the battle for the left-back position appears to have influenced his thinking.

Manchester United need to strengthen at left-back, with Luke Shaw entering the final year of his contract. Diogo Dalot has also been used further forward on the wing, while both Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui are primarily right-backs.

Balde would fit the profile United are looking for and the club has already been in contact with Mendes. However, Manchester Evening News reports that he is not the only player under consideration.

United consider lower-cost option

United are also examining the possibility of signing 19-year-old Spanish left-back Jorge Salinas from Racing Santander. The player has a release clause worth about £16m, making him a far less expensive option than Balde.

The substantial difference in potential cost is understood to be one reason United have monitored Balde without submitting a formal offer so far.

Benfica have made the only concrete proposal for Balde to date, but Sport reports that it falls well short of the fee Barcelona are seeking.

Aston Villa are thought to be the English club best placed to meet Barcelona’s financial demands. Villa would, however, need to sell one of their own players before they could proceed with a move for Balde.

Barcelona are also seeking to create financial room, but do not want to lose a player they still value for a modest fee. The club rated Balde at about 40m to 45m euros only a few months ago, making it reluctant to accept a significant reduction.

The possibility of Balde leaving has nevertheless prompted Barcelona’s sporting department to begin searching for a replacement. If he departs, the club’s options on the left side would be Joao Cancelo and Gerard Martin.

That would leave Barcelona with limited depth in the position during a long season in which they are expected to compete across several fronts. The club must therefore balance its need for financial flexibility with the risk of weakening an area of the squad.

For United, the choice is between pursuing a player who matches their immediate requirements but could command a considerable fee, or moving for Salinas and the more manageable release clause attached to the Racing Santander defender.