Alejandro Balde Set to Leave Barcelona in January Amid Intense European Interest

Despite Barcelona's defensive injuries, 23-year-old left-back Alejandro Balde is expected to leave the club during the winter transfer window as he does not feature in Hansi Flick's plans. Having rejected a move last summer in search of playing time, the Spanish defender is now actively being shopped by Joan Laporta's board, who also plan to secure defensive reinforcements in January.

According to Sport, Balde's agent Jorge Mendes is holding meetings with numerous clubs. Premier League sides Liverpool, Manchester United, and Aston Villa lead the English interest, alongside Tottenham and Manchester City, while Juventus and Roma are monitoring him in Italy despite his high wage demands. Benfica and Monaco are also keeping tabs on the situation. While Barcelona prefer an immediate permanent sale in the region of €40 million to reinvest in the squad, Mendes is reportedly pushing for a loan move until the end of the season featuring a conditional purchase option.