Unai Emery pushing Aston Villa to sign Alejandro Balde

Aston Villa are interested in signing the Barcelona defender Alejandro Balde at the end of the season.

The 22-year-old is highly rated across Europe, and he could prove to be an excellent long-term investment for the West Midlands club. Aston Villa manager Unai Emery wants to add more quality and depth in that area of the pitch, and he has identified the Spaniard as a target.

According to Fichajes, Barcelona want to keep the player at the club, but their financial situation could force them to cash in. They will be able to improve multiple areas of the squad if they sell the 22-year-old defender. The player is valued at €60 million, and it will be interesting to see if Aston Villa is willing to pay up.

They will also face competition from Manchester United and Manchester City. Manchester United have already failed with a €40 million proposal to sign the player. They need a quality long-term replacement for Luke. Shaw and Baldi could be an excellent investment for them.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa already have Lucas Digne and Ian Maatsen at their disposal. Digne is 32 and will need to be replaced in the long term. It is no surprise that they are keen on the Barcelona defender. He would be a long-term investment for them, and he could be the first choice left back at the club in the coming season. On the other hand, Maatsen has failed to convince the manager, and he has been a squad player for Aston. He has racked up just over 1200 minutes in the Premier League, and he is not a guaranteed starter for the West Midlands club.

As far as Manchester City’s interest is concerned, they already have Nico O’Reilly, who has been excellent for the club. They have Rayan Ait-Nouri as a backup option as well. It would be unnecessary for them to invest in another left back. They should look to sign a quality central defender and a right back instead.

It remains to be seen whether Aston Villa can win the race for his signature.