Barcelona are adding a home-grown star to their list of potential transfers

Barcelona defender, Alejandro Balde, is not among the group of players the club considers “non-transferable” as they continue to work through financial problems.

As has been the case this summer, Barcelona's ability to recruit is directly linked to how much space it can create in the wage bill and how much money is raised through the sale of players.

Frenkie de Jong and Ronald Araujo are high profile players and have been linked with a move. Raphinha, who is only signed until 2022, is another bet to do well. Robert Lewandowski has been given a hefty salary for 2024/25 – reportedly €31m.

Almost everyone can be found at the right price. But AS reports that there is a core group of young players, mostly home-grown, who cannot be traded. They are Pedri, Gavi, Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsi and Fermin Lopez, all graduates of La Masia except Pedri.

Balde is younger than both Pedri and Lopez and has been an integral part of the squad since becoming a full member of the first team squad ahead of 2022/23.

The 20-year-old signed a new long-term contract a month into the season until 2028, capped by a €1bn release clause reserved for Barcelona's top talent. He started almost every game in every competition until his season ended in January.

Balde's enforced absence saw Joao Cancelo fill in on the left, pushing Jules Kounde through the middle back to the right. This created space provided an unexpected opportunity for the aforementioned Cubarsi, who has grabbed it with both hands despite having only turned 17 in January.

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