Man United transfer news: Red Devils targeting late summer move for "expensive" Barcelona defender

By Matt Law | 20 Aug 2026 19:28, Last updated: 20 Aug 2026 19:30

Manchester United person reportedly made interaction with Alejandro Balde's cause to sermon a imaginable determination for the Barcelona defender precocious successful the transportation window.

The Red Devils are expected to motion a caller left-back earlier the summertime marketplace closes for business.

Lewis Hall is successful talks with Newcastle United implicit a caller contract, portion Atletico Madrid are the favourites for Racing Santander's Jorge Salinas.

According to transportation adept Fabrizio Romano, Man United person made interaction with Balde to sermon a imaginable determination for the Spain planetary earlier the extremity of the summertime market.

However, Balde wants to stay astatine Camp Nou, with an exit lone imaginable if the defender is told by the La Liga champions that helium is for sale.

Man United 'make contact' implicit determination for Balde

"Manchester United made a telephone to Jorge Mendes, the cause of Alejandro Balde, to recognize the concern of the Spanish left-back astatine Barcelona," Romano said connected his authoritative YouTube channel.

"Today (Thursday), Jorge Mendes has arrived successful Barcelona to sermon particularly astir exits. He was determination for Joao Cancelo’s accomplishment but not lone [that].

“Marc Casado, for example, is simply a lawsuit of Jorge Mendes and they person to determine astir his adjacent destination due to the fact that he’s surviving successful Barcelona. Barcelona and Balde stock a large relationship; Balde is simply a Barca boy. Balde, successful principle, doesn’t privation to permission Barcelona.

“Balde would spell lone if it’s Barcelona telling Balde, ‘Okay you tin go, we tin merchantability you’, but Balde successful rule wants to enactment with Barcelona and continue. Then we person to spot what happens due to the fact that successful lawsuit of large connection I don’t cognize what tin happen.

Man United are acceptable to motion a caller left-back earlier transportation deadline

“So let’s spot what’s going to hap there, let’s spot if Man Utd determine to spell for him. There are much options, besides cheaper [ones] evidently due to the fact that Balde would beryllium expensive.”

Balde, 22, has scored 3 goals and registered 21 assists successful 168 appearances for Barcelona successful each competitions.

Last season, the Spaniard, who has a declaration astatine Camp Nou until the summertime of 2028, provided 3 assists successful 42 appearances for the Catalan outfit.

Man United caput manager Michael Carrick has said that the Red Devils are looking to further fortify their squad earlier the transportation model closes.