On October 4, 2026, reports emerged that Barcelona is willing to allow Manchester United target Alejandro Balde to leave the club on loan in the upcoming January transfer window. The 22-year-old left-back has seen limited playing time this season, appearing as an unused substitute in six of eight matches under coach Xavi Hernandez.
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Manchester United had expressed interest in Balde during the summer transfer window but were unable to secure a left-back before the deadline. TEAMtalk has indicated that Barcelona has authorized Balde to pursue loan opportunities, with clubs like Everton, Fulham, Liverpool, and Sunderland reportedly interested.
Although Barcelona favors a loan arrangement, Balde's contract runs for less than two years, leaving open the possibility of a permanent transfer if United presents a suitable offer. So far this campaign, Balde has played only 12 minutes for Barcelona, prompting the club to support his departure in January. The young player is reportedly open to moving to the Premier League.
In their summer pursuit of left-backs, United had also shown interest in players such as Lewis Hall and Nathaniel Brown, but Hall has since signed a new long-term deal with Newcastle United, while Brown transferred to Bayern Munich for €50 million. This has led Manchester United, led by Michael Carrick, to seek alternative targets to compete with Luke Shaw for a starting spot.
Despite his reduced playing time, Balde is still considered one of the top left-back prospects in Europe. The United management believes he retains significant potential and, if signed, would initially serve as a backup to Shaw but could eventually compete for the starting position. With 169 first-team appearances at Barcelona, a move might provide Balde the opportunity needed to revitalize his career.