Suffice to say, Manchester United’s first Premier League game of the 2026/27 season was little more than an unmitigated disaster. Taking on the unfancied Hull City at the KC Stadium, the Red Devils were bullied and beaten into a 2-0 defeat.
As such, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them bring in some serious reinforcements before the summer transfer window slams shut.
They have a Barcelona star in their sights to help improve their current standing. Michael Carrick isn’t ready to rest on his laurels, it seems.
According to a report from Spanish outlet Sport, United have identified Alejandro Balde as a potential target and could make a move for the 22-year-old if they fail to sign Lewis Hall from Newcastle United.
Barcelona themselves are looking to generate funds to make a move for Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez possible, so it wouldn’t be surprising if they allowed him to leave for a reasonable fee.
Furthermore, Balde played no part in their opening La Liga game of the campaign, failing to even make the bench as they distmantled Elche by a score of 5-0 away from home.
Despite this, things might not be so simple – United are not the only club who have been linked with a move for Balde’s signature. A report from MARCA back in June suggested that Manchester City could also be in the hunt.
Furthermore, back in March, Liverpool were also linked with a move for the player [via Fichajes]. It’s unclear if this interest persists into the summer, though.
On top of this, TransferFeed claims that teams such as Aston Villa, AC Milan and Benfica are also in the mix. For now, Balde’s future remains unclear, but United’s interest is certainly evident.
Alejandro Balde 2025/26 La Liga stats
Games Goals Assists
Balde 28 0 2
Alejandro Balde 2025/26 Champions League stats
Games Goals Assists
Balde 8 0 1
What would Man Utd gain from bringing Balde on board?
A classic attacking full-back who can occupy more advanced roles if needed, Balde would give United plenty of options going forward on the left flank.
Additionally, United are in need of a new left-back, having made this a priority during the transfer window. Patrick Dorgu has been converted into a winger, Harry Amass is too green and Luke Shaw’s injury record will always be a concern.
To that end, bringing a player like Balde on board makes a lot of sense. However, he has a few holes in his game that could be exploited, especially in the Premier League.
He offers plenty from an attacking perspective, but can struggle on the defensive side of things. He isn’t the strongest player in the world – wingers with strong builds may find it too easy to muscle him off the ball.
As well as this, he can also be somewhat errant with his tackling, conceding more free-kicks than you’d normally expect from a defender. Being just 22 years of age, though, this may come with time. With proper coaching, he could turn into a world-class full-back.