Alejandro Balde, Arsenal's target: Will Barcelona let him go?

FC Barcelona is preparing for a very intense summer regarding potential transfers. One of the players the Barcelona board does not rule out cashing in on is Alejandro Balde, for whom several top European clubs have shown interest in recent months. The new contender to sign the '3' from Barcelona would be Arsenal, as Mikel Arteta prioritizes bringing in a full-back with his characteristics after the poor performance of Italian Riccardo Calafiori.

According to the English portal 'CaughtOffside', the 'gunners' would have a first offer ready of 30 million euros fixed, plus another 10 million in variables. The proposal is far from what Barcelona expects to earn for the defender, but it would be the first step for the London club to fully enter the bidding for the Catalan defender. The 21-year-old defender was already on Mikel Arteta's radar in 2023, and this year they will have Paris Saint-Germain as their main rival for the Spanish international.

Balde is no longer untouchable for Barcelona

Despite his great offensive performance in the Supercopa Classic, Barcelona is clear about the need to bring in another 'top' left-back next summer. Álex has left many doubts in defensive duties (in the final, Kylian Mbappé caused him serious problems) that have not only questioned his indisputable role. Barcelona will also include him in the list of transferables for a summer where the club, for the first time in a long time, will have the freedom to sign.

In this sense, Barcelona does not intend to rush the departure of any player or pressure any of its key figures to cash in. They will also not go to the market to spend just for the sake of spending, but the idea is to keep players on the market, waiting for interesting offers. In Balde's case, a price close to 60 million euros could open the door for him, beyond the confidence that the coaching staff has placed in him and the other academy players on the roster. In any case, the opinion of each player will be decisive in resolving their future. The '3' has a contract until 2028 and a release clause of 1 billion, two reasons enough to feel at ease.