Barcelona left-back Alejandro Balde has instructed his representative Jorge Mendes to secure a transfer away from the Catalan club before the window shuts, with Benfica submitting a formal proposal and Aston Villa maintaining a watching brief.
Benfica Lead the Chase
The Portuguese champions have emerged as the frontrunners in the race for the 22-year-old’s signature. Benfica have tabled an offer valued at approximately €20 million, broadly aligning with Barcelona’s valuation of the Spain international.
However, negotiations remain delicate. While the headline fee matches expectations, Barcelona are reportedly insisting on creative sell-on clauses to safeguard their interests in any future resale. These additional terms present the primary obstacle to completing an agreement.
Balde’s diminishing role under head coach Hansi Flick has accelerated his desire to leave. Both Flick and sporting director Deco do not view the youth product as a priority, instead focusing their efforts on securing the return of João Cancelo to reinforce the defensive line.
Villa Interest Hinges on Sales
Aston Villa have also registered their interest in Balde as they seek to strengthen their full-back options. However, any prospective move to the Midlands remains conditional. The club must first generate sufficient funds through player sales before they can table a formal bid.
Manchester United have additionally been linked with the defender, though no formal contact has been established between the Premier League side and Barcelona regarding a potential deal.
What’s Next?
With the transfer window drawing to a close, Mendes is working against the clock to finalise an exit for his client. Benfica currently present the most concrete pathway to regular first-team football, though the structure of the deal requires refinement to satisfy all parties.
Should Villa successfully offload players in the coming days, they could yet enter formal negotiations, adding further competition for Balde’s services. The defender is determined to secure a move that guarantees playing time after losing his status as an automatic starter at the Camp Nou.