Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has now contacted Barcelona sporting director Deco over a deal for a "real gem", it has been revealed.
Man City maintain pressure on Arsenal with victory over Everton
Man City rose to second in the Premier League courtesy of their 2-0 victory at home against Everton at the weekend, with talisman Erling Haaland continuing his fantastic start to the season by scoring a brace.
The Norwegian, who is regarded as one of the best strikers in the world, is likely to be key to City's chances of winning the Premier League title, with the win against the Toffees ensuring they remain three points behind league leaders Arsenal.
Gary Neville has expressed concern about the Blues' defensive vulnerabilities, but Gianluigi Donnarumma has received plenty of plaudits since his arrival, while Nico O'Reilly has continued to impress, assisting Haaland's opening goal on Saturday afternoon.
However, according to a report from E-Noticies, Guardiola is worried by his lack of options at left-back, having been forced to improvise by giving O'Reilly the nod in that area of the pitch.
O'Reilly
As such, the Man City boss has now made direct contact with Barcelona sporting director Deco over a move for Alejandro Balde, who Pep has been keen on for quite some time, having tried to get a deal done back in 2023.
The City manager believes Balde, who rakes in around £28k-a-week, would be an ideal fit in his system, given his speed, ability to break the lines and tactical astuteness.
That said, it could be difficult to get a deal done, given that the 22-year-old has expressed no intention of leaving the Camp Nou, with the La Liga club viewing him as an essential part of their project going forward.
"Real gem" Balde could be solid option for Man City
The Spaniard has been a regular first-team player at Barcelona for quite some time, receiving high praise from scout Jacek Kulig for his attacking contributions during the 2022-23 campaign.
The left-back is also very comfortable in possession of the ball, as showcased by the fact he ranks in the 97th percentile for pass-completion rate per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers.
Those qualities could make Balde ideal for Man City, but there are some doubts over whether he would be a necessary signing, given the start O'Reilly has made to the campaign, with Guardiola praising the young Englishman after his Golden Boy nomination.