Latest reports from El Chiriguito TV indicate that Barcelona's left back Alejandro Balde may leave Barca in the summer, and the Catalans will go for Alejandro Grimaldo from Bayer Leverkusen for just 12 million euros.
Performance concerns for Balde
The same report suggests that English Premier League club Aston Villa is ready to offer 50 million euros for Balde in the summer, and this may force Barca to sell the player to fund other crucial transfers in the summer. The performance of Balde has been criticized throughout the season; he failed to replicate his peak 2022-23 season due to injury issues, and most importantly, he lacks the help of a natural winger on the left flank. In many matches, we can see Balde getting overloaded with defensive duties, attacking duties, and the duty of holding the width, as Barca does not have a touchline winger.
Grimaldo attacking output attracts Barcelona scouts
Alejandro Grimaldo has been consistently performing for Bayer Leverkusen for the past 3 years; he is known for his world-class deliveries into the box and free kicks with surgical precision.
In the Bundesliga this season he provided 8 goals and 8 assists for the team, which is a wonderful number for a left back. He is one of the best attacking wingbacks in the world, but there is concern regarding his defensive contribution, unlike Balde, who is stable defensively; this raises questions about whether he can effectively support the team's defensive needs while maintaining his attacking prowess.
Barcelona still prefer to keep Balde long term
This transfer is not a priority for Barcelona because they want to keep Balde, who has a high future potential, is a La Masia product, and has emotional support from fans. The departure of Balde will only happen when Barca faces an extreme difficult financial situation in the summer, but there are chances that Barca will sign Alejandro Grimaldo and keep him along with Balde for squad depth.
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