Man City ‘make bid’ for Barcelona star as Pep Guardiola plots stunning raid on former club
Manchester City are reportedly considering a move for Barcelona star Alejandro Balde as Pep Guardiola looks to sign a new left-back.
The manager was left unconvinced by the performances of Sergio Gomez last season and is keen to bring in more competition for him.
Bernardo Silva was forced to play as a left-back at times last term but he has been linked with a departure from the Etihad recently.
As a result, Man City are indeed expected to bring in a new left-sided defender, who ideally has the energy to be a threat in the final third.
Balde has the ability to play that role for the Cityzens, so it’s no surprise to see them linked with the 19-year-old.
The Spain international joined the Catalans at the age of eight back in 2011 and enjoyed an excellent breakthrough season at the Nou Camp last term.
So far, Balde has made 51 appearances for Barcelona. In the process, he has scored one goal and made seven assists. He is widely considered to be one of the top young full-backs in Europe.
Balde’s current contract with Barca is set to expire in 2024. The LaLiga giants are working hard on an extension, but Balde is yet to agree to one, as it stands.
His recent performances have caught the attention of several clubs. According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Man City have ‘made a bid’ for Balde.
The report states that an offer ‘has arrived from the Etihad stadium.’ It’s noted that Man City are willing to pay Balde a ‘much higher’ salary than what Barcelona are offering in their extension.
Balde is keen to continue his journey with the Catalans, though, and has been advised by his agent Jorge Mendes to remain at the Camp Nou.
Mundo Deportivo add that ‘everything has been discussed’ regarding his contract extension and is still expected to prolong his stay with Barcelona.
Given Barcelona’s financial issues, however, they could be forced to accept a sizeable bid for Balde. It isn’t clear how much Man City are willing to pay for him at this stage.
It would still be a big twist if the Premier League champions brought him in, though, despite their recent offer.
As a result, Guardiola may have to turn his attention to alternative options. Arsenal’s Kieran Tierney is one player who has been linked with a move to the Etihad in the past, for example.
Man City will also have Joao Cancelo available for selection next season after his loan deal with Bayern Munich came to an end. With that in mind, it will be interesting to see if Guardiola opts to utilise the Portugal international as a left-back again.
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