According to a report by FootballTransfers on Sunday, November 1, 2026, Manchester United could have an opportunity to sign Barcelona defender Alejandro Balde in January as the left-back's role in the Spanish club's first team has become less significant.

United's need for defensive reinforcements has increased following their defeat to Chelsea on Saturday, which extended their winless run to nine matches.

Manager Michael Carrick is also facing a shortage of options at left-back because of injuries to Luke Shaw and Patrick Dorgu, while Lisandro Martínez was sent off during the Chelsea encounter.

Balde, meanwhile, has managed just 101 minutes of La Liga action this season. His situation has attracted attention after he was not included in Barcelona's starting lineup for their 6-1 victory over Alavés, raising questions about his future at the club.

Barcelona were also without several defenders for the match, including Andreas Christensen, Jules Koundé, Eric García and Xavi Espart.

Despite those absences, manager Hansi Flick reportedly opted to use 20-year-old midfielder Brian Farinas at right-back rather than turn to Balde, who was also unavailable because of an injury.

Although Balde came on for the final 28 minutes, the situation has added to speculation that he could consider leaving Barcelona when the January transfer window opens.

Barcelona's position on the defender's future remains unclear, with the club yet to indicate whether it would be willing to sanction his departure.

However, reports in the Spanish media suggest that Balde's relationship with Flick has become strained, potentially making him more open to a move away from Camp Nou.

Flick has also publicly discussed the defender's recent performances. Before the match against Alavés, the Barcelona manager said Balde appeared to be "lacking confidence" and needed to show greater belief in the team's approach.

He also explained that Barcelona's full-backs play an important role in pressing high up the pitch and supporting the team's attacking movements.

With United struggling to find stability at left-back because of their injury problems, Balde could emerge as a potential solution to their defensive concerns.

However, any possible transfer will depend on two major factors: whether the defender is interested in continuing his career in Manchester and whether Barcelona are prepared to negotiate his departure.