Flashscore sources: Manchester United firm on price limit for Barcelona's Alejandro Balde

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/barcelona/SKbpVP5K/"]Barcelona[/a] would be looking for around £40 million to sell [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/balde-alejandro/6c0CXHVM/"]Balde[/a], but [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/manchester-united/ppjDR086/"]United[/a]’s current intention would be to negotiate a permanent deal at no more than £30 million. There have also been some reports emerging that an initial loan could become United’s preferred solution.[/p][p]Flashscore sources have revealed the reasoning behind United’s careful stance as the club continue to search for a new left-back. United do want to strengthen in the position, but there are two significant factors impacting [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/soccer-premier-league-why-man-utd-may-come-to-regret-making-a-summer-move-for-barcelona-s-alejandro-balde/IuLPkO0c/"]their approach for Balde.[/a][/p][p]The first is that United do not want to be held to ransom over a player they are not convinced represents the definitive answer to their long-term problem at left-back.[/p][p][b]The second is surrounding the uncertainty over whether Balde is the long-term solution. United believe the Barcelona defender could solve the problem for now, but there are doubts over whether they should commit heavily to the deal at this stage.[/b][/p][p]That is particularly important given that [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hall-lewis/rJOyDa3N/"]Lewis Hall[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/soccer-premier-league-flashscore-sources-man-utd-reassess-left-back-plans-as-lewis-hall-move-stalls/xjTVf8Dr/"]remains viewed as the main candidate[/a] and preferred option for the position.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/brown-nathaniel/Kh5pWVDr/"]Nathaniel Brown[/a] was another player United seriously wanted before he joined [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/bayern-munich/nVp0wiqd/"]Bayern Munich[/a] from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/eintracht-frankfurt/8vndvXTk/"]Eintracht Frankfurt[/a].[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/salinas-jorge/hCp3VZOF/"]Jorge Salinas[/a], from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/racing-santander/nVpEwOrl/"]Racing Santander[/a], has also been seriously considered. However, the 19-year-old was viewed from a slightly different perspective given his age and development profile. [/p][embed guid="32036511-2b53-4d37-9498-1b31f44f412e" url="https://x.com/DeadlineDayLive/status/2091767208192221478" social-type="twitter" /][p]The thinking at United is therefore not to commit significant funds to Balde now, only to discover that one of their preferred options becomes available over the next year.[/p][p]For that reason, United’s current stance towards Barcelona is effectively clear, in that if the Catalan club genuinely want to move Balde on, they should be prepared to negotiate.[/p][p][b]Balde is understood to be viewed as surplus to requirements at Barcelona and they would sell at the right price. The player himself is not desperate to leave.[/b][/p][p]United have followed the left-back for the past two years and are interested, but they have to be careful in the run towards the transfer deadline. There is a limit to how long United can remain in limbo and the club need clarity on Balde’s situation very soon.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/raum-david/2XVqEh8k/"]David Raum[/a] has also been offered to United and is viewed in a broadly similar light to Balde - as a player who could provide a solution at left-back, but not necessarily one for whom the club want to make a major long-term financial commitment.[/p][infobox id="f961102e-920a-4281-b5f2-f996852544cf" /]