I’ll be honest, when I saw the news that Liverpool have been offered the chance to sign Alejandro Balde in January, my first thought was pretty simple.
That could be very interesting.
According to TEAMtalk, Barcelona are prepared to allow Balde to leave on loan in January and Liverpool are among the clubs who have been sounded out about a possible move. Manchester United have also been approached, while Sunderland, Everton and Fulham are reportedly among the other Premier League clubs contacted.
And suddenly Liverpool have another decision to make at left-back.
Because let’s be honest, that position hasn’t been completely convincing this season.
Milos Kerkez has struggled to reproduce the form that made Liverpool want him in the first place, while Kostas Tsimikas looks increasingly like a short-term option rather than the long-term answer.
So should Liverpool take a chance on Balde?
For me, if it’s a sensible loan deal, I’d be tempted.
Balde is a very different player
There’s a reason Barcelona once saw Balde as such an important part of their future.
He came through the club’s academy and established himself in the first team at a remarkably young age. Barcelona handed him a new contract in 2023 that runs until 2028, with a €1 billion release clause.
This isn’t some unknown youngster Liverpool are being offered.
He’s a 22-year-old Spain international who has already played at the highest level.
He’s quick.
He’s aggressive.
He likes getting forward.
And when he’s confident, he can be a real problem for defenders.
That’s exactly the sort of profile Liverpool have traditionally wanted from their full-backs.
But there is obviously a reason he’s available.
Why is Barcelona willing to let him go?
This is the part Liverpool need to look at carefully.
TEAMtalk reports that Balde has fallen down the pecking order under Hansi Flick and has managed only one first-team appearance this season. Xavi Espart and João Cancelo are ahead of him, while Gerard Martín has also moved above him in the battle for the left-back position.
That’s a pretty dramatic fall for somebody who was once regarded as Barcelona’s long-term left-back.
And it explains why his representatives are now exploring options elsewhere.
Balde apparently wants regular football.
I can’t blame him.
At 22, sitting on the bench every week isn’t going to help his career.
A move to England could give him exactly what he needs.
And Liverpool could potentially give him that opportunity.
But I’m not throwing Kerkez under the bus
This is important.
I don’t want Liverpool supporters to suddenly decide that Kerkez is rubbish because Balde has become available.
I’m still interested to see what Kerkez can do under Iraola.
He’s only recently arrived at Liverpool, he’s adapting to a new manager and a completely different system, and we’ve already seen flashes of the player who impressed so much at Bournemouth.
But Liverpool need competition.
And that’s something Balde could provide.
Imagine having two young left-backs fighting for the position rather than simply hoping one of them finds consistency.
That could be a very good thing for Liverpool.
And there’s another reason I like this
Liverpool already have experience of dealing with Barcelona.
Ronald Araújo arrived on loan in the summer and has quickly become one of the most interesting players in Iraola’s squad.
He’s even ended up playing at right-back and has impressed enormously.
So if Liverpool could bring Balde in on a similar short-term arrangement, it wouldn’t be completely out of character for the club.
TEAMtalk says a loan is currently being considered for Balde, although the exact structure of any potential deal hasn’t been decided.
For me, that’s the important word.
Loan.
I’d be much more comfortable with Liverpool taking a look at Balde for six months than immediately committing a huge amount of money to a player who is currently struggling to get into Barcelona’s team.
Give him a chance.
See how he adapts.
See how he responds to Iraola’s football.
Then make the bigger decision.
Could Balde actually suit Iraola?
That’s what really interests me.
Iraola wants his Liverpool team to play on the front foot.
He wants energy.
He wants his full-backs involved.
He wants players capable of getting forward quickly and contributing to attacks.
Balde’s natural game appears to fit that sort of football.
The question is whether he can rediscover his confidence.
Because the Balde we’re talking about now isn’t necessarily the same Balde Barcelona supporters were raving about a couple of years ago.
Liverpool would need to bring back that player.
And that’s where Iraola could have an important role.
Sometimes a player doesn’t need a completely different footballing education.
They simply need somebody to trust them again.
So, good deal or no?
For me?
Good deal — if it’s a loan.
I’d definitely be interested.
Liverpool need more competition at left-back and Balde has the talent, pace and experience to make the position much more interesting.
But I wouldn’t go into it thinking he’s automatically the answer.
That’s where Liverpool have to be careful.
A player being available from Barcelona doesn’t automatically make him better than somebody already at Anfield.
And I still want to see what Kerkez can become.
But if Balde arrives in January, gets his confidence back and starts showing the player Barcelona once believed could be their long-term left-back, Liverpool could have a very good signing on their hands.
And if it doesn’t work?
Liverpool haven’t committed themselves to a permanent deal.
That’s why I like the idea.
Bring him in. Give him a chance. Let Iraola have a look at him.
Because if Liverpool can get the best out of Alejandro Balde, suddenly that left-back position could look very different.
And considering how much we’ve been talking about Liverpool’s left side this season, I’m certainly not going to complain about giving Iraola another option.
By Jamie (The Kopite View)
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