Barcelona has to resolve numerous open folders for next season. One of them is the one on the left side. Firstly, the club wants to permanently sign João Cancelowho played last season on loan. The Sports Directorate has been working on this matter since the end of said year. It is not a simple operation, since it is necessary to negotiate with Al-Hilal to unblock the situation.
However, it is not the only issue that affects the left back, a position that could undergo an important transformation. Barcelona does not rule out a departure for Alejandro Balde. The youth player has not performed at the expected level this season and both Deco and Hansi Flick would be willing to part with him if a good offer arrives. There would be no shortage of suitors for him, since he is a player with a great presence in Europe. Its market value would be around 55 million euros.
Chelsea, willing to sell
If Balde decided to leave, his replacement would most likely be Marc Cucurella. The Chelsea player knows the Barça club’s interest in incorporating him next season. There have already been contacts, although without significant progress, since everything depends on whether Balde decides to leave Barcelona. And, for the moment, the Barça full-back does not want to leave the Camp Nou. He is not satisfied with the playing minutes he is having or with the arrival of Cancelo in winter. Both share a representative, Jorge Mendes, but their intention is to continue in the club.
Goal by Cucurella (0-2) in Bulgaria 0-3 Spain
A long market
It will be necessary to see to what extent Barcelona pressures Balde to leave. We are at the beginning of June and the entire market remains ahead. Anything can happen. Meanwhile, Cucurella is concentrating with the national team to compete in the World Cup and is in no hurry to make a decision.
Chelsea’s departure
He is quite clear that he will leave Chelsea this summer, a team that has not qualified for European competition next season. Cucurella knows that, if a good offer arrives, the English club will allow him to leave. This offer should be between 45 and 55 million euros, between fixed and variable amounts. We must not forget that Chelsea paid more than 60 million to acquire the services of the full-back.
waiting
The right time to execute the operation remains to be seen. Barcelona is waiting for Balde to decide to leave the club, something that, for now, has not happened. The problem for the Blaugranas is that there are other clubs interested in the defender, including Atlético de Madrid, who wants to incorporate it into their project. The red and whites will wait, but not forever. Cucurella has also been given a deadline to make a decision.
