Chelsea & Man Utd alerted as ruthless Flick axes Barcelona defender

Tom Weber

• Updated: 25 May 2024 15:14 BST
• 4 min read

Barcelona are willing to listen to offers for Alejandro Balde this summer, according to a report.

The Blaugrana's coaching turmoil is set to end in the coming days. Club legend Xavi has been sacked after enraging president Joan Laporta with his comments claiming that Barcelona won't be able to compete with Real Madrid for the foreseeable future and ex-Bayern and Germany boss Hansi Flick will take the reins.

The German has been keen on the job for months and reportedly began learning Spanish shortly after Xavi initially announced his exit in January. But practising the language isn't the only preparation Flick has done ahead of taking over in Catalunya.

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According to Sport, the tactician has also already drawn up transfer plans for the coming season. It is claimed that Flick and sporting director Deco are in agreement that a new central midfielder needs to be signed, with Joshua Kimmich the favoured option. The German has also given the green light to Barcelona's free transfer acquisition of Guido Rodriguez.

Barcelona to axe Balde?

Intriguingly, the report also mentions that Barcelona could look to cash in on La Masia product Alejandro Balde. One of the breakout stars of the 2022/23 season, the 20-year-old failed to recapture that form in the bygone campaign.

With Barcelona in desperate need of raising funds from sales, the club are willing to listen to offers for the left-back. Flick, it is claimed, believes that the Catalans need to get stronger defensively. He is not averse to keeping Joao Cancelo, as long as it is merely a loan, but will look at options for the right and left-back positions.

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The news of Balde's potential availability will be received with interest in England. Both Man Utd and Chelsea are in the market for a left-back this summer, with the former particularly keen on adding a young player in that position. Whether their budget will permit signing Balde, who surely won't come cheap, remains to be seen, but it wouldn't come as a surprise to see Man Utd and Chelsea take a look at the Spaniard.