SALIBA’S REPLACEMENT: Arsenal started negotiations with €20m-rated Spain international

Alejandro Balde has emerged on the radars of Arsenal and Newcastle. The PL giants are monitoring the Barcelona left-back’s situation closely. That is because the Catalan club might not be able to register the 19-year-old defender’s new deal.

Spain international is one of several prodigious prospects to be a part of Xavi’s youth revolution at Barcelona. Previous generations of La Masia graduates chose to leave the Blaugrana after graduating from the academy. But the current Barcelona coach has integrated several teenagers, including Alejandro, into the first-team squad.

Balde has featured the most prominently among the Blaugrana’s three left-backs this campaign. The Spaniard has turned out 19 times thus far in 2022/23, chipping in with three assists. And he might soon sign a new deal with Barcelona. But Barcelona’s financial woes have led to Arsenal and Newcastle tracking the situation.

Arsenal will not need to bring in a left-back a year after signing Zinchenko. The Ukrainian defender took little time to adjust to the demands of his new team. And fitness issues notwithstanding, the Ukrainian has been the first-choice left-back for the Gunners. In addition, Tierney is a dependable full-back.

So it is unclear how the Spanish defender might fit in the scheme of things at Emirates Stadium. Nonetheless, the Gunners have shown interest in several left-backs, including Alejandro Balde. But the Gunners will have to fend off stiff competition from Newcastle to sign the Barcelona defensive sensation.