Liverpool are preparing to initiate contact for Barcelona left-back Alejandro Balde ahead of the January transfer window, according to reports in Spain. The 22-year-old Spain international has emerged as a primary target for Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola, who is seeking to bolster his defensive options. Multiple reports, including from the Barcelona-based publication Sport, suggest that the Catalan club would be open to offers in the region of €40 million (£34.2 million) for the defender, provided they can facilitate a deal that aligns with their financial requirements.
Status: Multiple independent sources.
Our transfer tracker records this interest as an active monitoring phase. Balde, who has not featured in a competitive match for Barcelona under head coach Hansi Flick during the current campaign, is currently under contract at the Camp Nou. A €40 million fee would represent a significant investment in the position as Liverpool look to refresh their defensive options. While Andy Robertson remains a senior member of the squad, the club has been linked with defensive reinforcements to support both Milos Kerkez and Konstantinos Tsimikas, as the coaching staff looks to address inconsistencies in the full-back roles.
Alejandro Balde's Status at Barcelona
The situation regarding Balde at Barcelona has shifted rapidly this season. Despite previously being viewed as a cornerstone of the club’s future, the integration of academy graduate Xavi Espart, combined with Flick’s tactical preferences, has relegated the 22-year-old to the periphery of the first team. Reports indicate that an emergency meeting between the player and his agent, Jorge Mendes, has been scheduled to evaluate the next steps in his career. For Liverpool, the appeal lies in Balde’s potential ceiling and his compatibility with a high-pressing system, attributes the club’s recruitment team evidently values as they seek to implement Iraola's aggressive, attacking style on Merseyside.
Liverpool's Interest in Manu Koné
Parallel to their search for defensive cover, Liverpool have also been linked with AS Roma midfielder Manu Koné. While specific valuations remain fluid, reports from TuttoMercatoWeb indicate that Roma are holding firm on a price point near £50 million, having previously resisted significant interest from Chelsea during the summer transfer window. Liverpool’s enquiry is currently described as exploratory rather than advanced, though the club’s interest in bolstering their central midfield depth remains a consistent element of their wider recruitment strategy ahead of the upcoming market opening. The club is expected to finalise their targets before the transfer window opens in January.
