Premier League side Chelsea interested in signing Barcelona's Balde

Premier League side Chelsea interested in signing Barcelona's Balde

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The left-back is out of contract in 2024 but should sign a new deal soon

Barcelona's sporting department has set as an absolute priority the renewal of Alejandro Balde, a player whose contract expires in 2024. Negotiations are on the right path, although they are not closed, and it would also be necessary to be able to register the new contract while avoiding the salary cap problems.

The player's agent, Jorge Mendes, is in favour of him continuing -- as is the player himself -- but Mendes has also warned that if they need, there could be offers for Balde. One of the most interested clubs is Chelsea.

Balde has been one of the pleasant surprises of the season, breaking into the left-back position and establishing himself as first-choice ahead of Marcos Alonso and Jordi Alba. His progression has also made him a regular in the Spanish national team despite his youth and his style and power has not gone unnoticed in the Premier League.

Barça have been trying for months to close his renewal until 2027 and hope to be able to announce it soon, although it is clear that Balde could be a major source of income due to the number of teams willing to bid for him.

Mendes has demanded that Balde is valued financially according to the performance he is giving and understands that he should make a very big leap in the Blaugrana salary scale. It is clear that Barça no longer pays the salaries of a few years ago, but Balde and his camp aspire to be on the same salary as Pedri or Ansu Fati, players who renewed last year.

Barça have to juggle to balance the books, but they hope that their offer will be enough to keep him because of Balde's own interest in staying at Camp Nou.

Chelsea have had a lot of problems this season with their left-back. They signed Cucurella for 65 million euros, but their manager is not convinced by him as a left-back and has recently changed his position. Ben Chilwell is not performing well either and could leave at the end of the season, so they are looking for a specialist. And the London club have shown that they are not shaking in their boots when it comes to paying big money.

Barça are convinced, after the last meeting with Mendes, that they will reach a renewal agreement with Balde, which they will announce before the end of the season in the hope that he can be signed. If not, which is unlikely, a new scenario would open up with a year to go before the end of the contract.

Balde left his future open publicly a few weeks ago, but the reality is that the player's objective is to be able to close the negotiation satisfactorily.

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