Barcelona player wants Manchester United, but the English club is considering a less costly option

Manchester United look to bolster their defence

Manchester United are monitoring the situation of one of Barcelona's players, after the Catalan club gave his agent Jorge Mendes the green light to look for a new destination.

The future of Spanish left-back Alejandro Balde at Barcelona is nearing a decisive point. He was left out of the squad for Sunday evening's clash with Elche at the Martinez Valero, a fresh sign that his club are already negotiating his departure.

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His name is doing the rounds in England, Portugal and Italy, but United are the destination that excites him most, according to Catalan newspaper "Sport".

Competition with Joao Cancelo is one reason Balde changed his stance, having spent the summer insisting he wanted to stay at Barcelona.

The "Manchester Evening News", meanwhile, reports that the Catalan full-back is not the only option on the English club's table.

United need to sign a left-back. Luke Shaw is entering the final year of his contract, Diogo Dalot has moved to the wing, and both Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui are essentially right-backs.

A less costly option

Balde suits the English side's needs, and the club have already made contact with Mendes. At the same time they are studying a far cheaper option: Spaniard Jorge Salinas, the 19-year-old Racing Santander left-back, who carries a release clause worth around 16 million pounds sterling.

That gulf in cost explains why United are watching Balde without submitting an official offer so far. The only concrete bid for the player came from Benfica, and it sits well below the value Barcelona have set, according to "Sport".

Aston Villa look the most capable of meeting Barcelona's financial demands, but they first need to sell one of their own players.

Barcelona, for their part, need to free up financial margin, yet they do not want to let the 22-year-old go for a paltry sum, especially as the club valued him a few months ago at around 40 to 45 million euros.

With the door opening for his exit, Barcelona's sporting management have already begun the search for a new left-back. The left side would otherwise fall to Cancelo and Gerard Martin, limited depth for a team facing a long season on various fronts.