Barcelona ‘contact’ Sunderland and Everton over January loan for Alejandro Balde | OneFootball

According to Sunderland Echo, Sunderland are among several clubs contacted by Barcelona about a possible January loan for left-back Alejandro Balde.

The La Masia graduate broke through under Xavi during the 2022/23 title-winning season, and at 22 he has 169 Barcelona appearances and seven Spain caps.

This term he has featured only once, coming on in the second half of a 7-2 win over Racing Santander before the international break.

He is viewed as third or fourth choice at left-back, with Xavi Espart, Joao Cancelo and Gerard Martin preferred in recent starting lineups.

Asked last month about Balde’s outlook, the Barca boss said the full-back has immense quality but he wants to see if he is convinced he can compete, adding that he needs every player to be totally committed.

Balde has been linked with Premier League clubs over the past year, and his representatives are said to be working on options away from Catalunya with permission from Barcelona to explore a move. Everton and Fulham have also been contacted, with a loan mooted as he approaches the final 18 months of his contract.

Source: Sunderland Echo

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”