Alejandro Balde 'on verge of signing new Barcelona deal'

The 19-year-old's current terms with the Catalan giants are due to expire in June 2024, and there has recently been speculation surrounding his future at Camp Nou.

Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain are both said to be tracking the left-back, who has made 20 appearances for Barcelona during the 2022-23 campaign.

However, according to Sport, Balde is on the verge of penning new terms at Camp Nou, with the contract set to be valid until the summer of 2027 and include a release clause of €500m (£436.4m).

The report claims that 'everything is agreed', with an official announcement to follow in the near future.

Balde has been with Barcelona since the age of eight, progressing through the youth system before making his first-team debut in 2021.

The teenager has largely been the team's first-choice left-back this season, featuring on 12 occasions in La Liga, contributing four assists, while he also played four times in the group stage of the Champions League.

Balde was in action for Spain at the 2022 World Cup, meanwhile, making four appearances at the competition, as La Roja were eliminated in the last-16 stage of the competition.

"We are happy with his development, we have been working on renewing his contract for a long time and the relationship with his agents is perfect. The player is grateful to Barcelona and Barcelona is grateful to him," Barcelona sporting director Jordi Cruyff recently told RAC1.

Meanwhile, in September, Barcelona boss Xavi admitted that he was 'amazed' by Balde's performance levels considering his age.

"He has great quality and character. It never ceases to amaze me that an 18-year-old can play at that level," he said. "Physically he is amazing and he is going to give us a lot."

Barcelona are also said to be working to extend Marcos Alonso's deal, but there are players who may leave the Catalan side on free transfers this summer.

Memphis Depay, Hector Bellerin and Sergio Busquets could depart when their contracts expire in June 2023, while Sergi Roberto, Inaki Pena and Arnau Tenas also only have deals until the end of the campaign.