Newcastle United have been linked with signing Alejandro Balde, but the defender now looks set to sign a new contract and stay at Barcelona.
That is according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, who has provided a big update on the 19-year-old’s future.
Balde emerged as a target for the Magpies earlier this month. Spanish outlet Sport claimed that Eddie Howe’s side and Arsenal had contacted Balde’s representatives about a transfer.
The left-back has been in negotiations over a new contract at Barca, with his current deal expiring in 2024. But Sport stated that the two parties were struggling to reach an agreement due to the Catalan club’s ongoing financial predicament.
This reportedly alerted Newcastle to register their interest in the teenager, who recently made his international debut for Spain at the World Cup in Qatar.
Howe and Arteta were seemingly ready to pounce on Balde’s contract uncertainty, but it now looks like a conclusion is close to being reached.
Alejandro Balde’s new Barcelona contract will be ‘sealed very soon’
Sport previously stated that Balde was in talks over a new deal to keep him at the Camp Nou until 2027, but wages could be an issue when it came to registering the player for La Liga. Each team has a salary cap in Spanish football’s top flight.
However, it now appears that Barcelona have found a solution.
According to transfer expert Romano, Balde’s new contract is going to be ‘sealed very soon’, with talks at the final stage. He adds that the teenager is considered a key player for the present and the future.
With a new contract set to be signed, that should rule Newcastle out of the race to sign him. In truth, a January move never felt likely. It was a speculative story that was likely used to force Barca’s hand and agree an acceptable extension.
But he would have been a good addition to Howe’s squad – a player who could have been part of the bright future that is on the horizon at St James’ Park.
However, that is seemingly not going to happen, and Newcastle will have to look elsewhere when they decide to enter the market for a left-back.
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