Manchester United open talks with Jorge Mendes to sign Barcelona left-back Alejandro Balde

Manchester United are expected to open talks with agent Jorge Mendes imminently over a move for Barcelona left-back Alejandro Balde, according to reports from ESPN and transfer journalist Nicolo Schira.

Schira reports that the 22-year-old could leave Barcelona, with United having shown concrete interest and direct contact with his representative expected very soon. ESPN had already revealed earlier in the week that the club were monitoring Balde’s situation at the Camp Nou due to concerns that Luke Shaw will be unable to sustain three games per week across the Premier League and the Champions League.

United have been searching broadly for left-back reinforcements this window, having also enquired about Newcastle United’s Lewis Hall earlier in the summer. The renewed push for Balde suggests that whoever has taken over from Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford still considers the position unresolved as the Premier League transfer window approaches its close.

No formal bid, agreed fee, or personal-terms breakthrough has been reported at this stage. Barcelona have not been reported as accepting any framework for a sale, meaning the initial contact with Mendes is designed to establish whether the Blaugrana are willing to negotiate at all.

Separately, Manchester City are pursuing Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández in an unrelated piece of business. Fabrizio Romano reports that a formal proposal from City is forthcoming, with the club confident of completing a deal for the Argentina international at around €130 million. Schira adds that Fernández himself is pushing for the move, and that personal terms are not expected to be a stumbling block given the player’s willingness to leave Stamford Bridge. City’s interest does not extend to Balde; that pursuit belongs solely to United.