Liverpool’s turbulent start to the season in the Premier League saw them face their first defeat of the English top flight as Manchester City sealed a 3-0 win at Anfield in their meeting on Sunday.
A number of Liverpool players were criticised for not offering enough on the pitch, not least the defenders, who have been playing over the last few months without much competition. That could change soon as the Reds are planning to revamp their backline.
El Nacional has reported that a left back’s signing is one of Liverpool’s key agendas and they are now interested in bringing in Barcelona left back Alejandro Balde in the winter transfer window at the start of 2027.
Balde stayed at Barca despite rumours surrounding his future this summer, but his bid to fight for a place under Hansi Flick has been hampered by the German’s preference towards Gerard Martin and Joao Cancelo at left back.
Top signing for Liverpool
If Liverpool can secure Alejandro Balde’s signing from Barcelona, they would have made a world-class addition to their squad and a player they can bank on to be a long-term replacement for Andy Robertson.
Milos Kerkez was acquired from Bournemouth last year to eventually succeed Robertson, who left Anfield as a free agent in the summer, but the Hungarian’s form has been subpar as he has struggled offensively, in transitions and in the Reds’ tactical setup.
Balde’s signing would essentially help Liverpool overcome all those issues as the La Masia graduate reads the game intelligently and positions himself accordingly, is quick, covers both ends of the pitch effectively and has a strong physical prowess too.
The 23-year-old is comfortable in possession as he distributes the ball well from the back, delivers accurate crosses and can play in an inverted role, which is something Kerkez has struggled to do, thus impacting his chemistry with the left winger.
Considering Barcelona are looking to make some money in order to balance their books, they may be open to selling Alejandro Balde, who does not seem to be a key part of Hansi Flick’s plans, in January itself.
El Nacional claims Balde has a £34 million price tag, and for a player of the Spaniard’s potential, it seems like a reasonable investment.
