{"id":621055,"date":"2023-01-12T02:12:12","date_gmt":"2023-01-12T07:12:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/?p=621055"},"modified":"2023-01-12T02:12:12","modified_gmt":"2023-01-12T07:12:12","slug":"arsenal-target-alejandro-balde-barcelona-contract","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2023\/01\/12\/arsenal-target-alejandro-balde-barcelona-contract\/","title":{"rendered":"Potential Arsenal Target Close to Signing New Barcelona Contract"},"content":{"rendered":"

Of late, there have been several reports<\/a> suggesting that Arsenal were interested in signing Barcelona left-back Alejandro Balde. The 19-year-old has shown great potential at the Spanish club, regularly deputising for veteran Jordi Alba. So much so that Balde was called up to the Spanish squad for the Qatar World Cup to replace the injured Jose Gaya.<\/p>\n

However, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has shut those rumours down, reporting<\/a> that the Gunners are not in talks to sign the youngster and that Balde “is close to signing a new contract with Barcelona with a \u20ac500 million [approximately \u00a3443 million) release clause.”<\/p>\n

Alejandro Balde Close to Signing Barcelona Contract With \u00a3443 Million Release Clause<\/h2>\n

Arsenal January Transfer Window So Far<\/h3>\n

It has been a quiet transfer window for the club so far, with the Gunners yet to complete any signings. However, whilst Alejandro Balde will not be their first signing, it is becoming increasingly likely that 22-year-old winger Mykhailo Mudryk will be.<\/p>\n

Read More: <\/strong>How Chelsea Could Line Up After January Transfer Window<\/a><\/p>\n

Chelsea are their main rivals for the Ukrainian’s signature, however, with the Blues completing a loan deal for Joao Felix<\/a>, Arsenal appear to be in pole position to get the deal done.<\/p>\n

Balde would have been a great addition to Mikel Arteta’s squad, but with their focus seemingly on bolstering the attack, and with Kieran Tierney and Oleksandr Zinchenko already at the club, it was always unlikely that Arsenal were going to pay over the odds for a relatively unproven third left-back.<\/p>\n

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Alejandro Balde\u2019s game by numbers vs. Atletico Madrid:<\/p>\n

100% long balls completed
91% pass accuracy
72 touches
42 passes completed
5\/9 ground duels won
4\/4 tackles won
2 clearances
1 dribble completed
1 key pass<\/p>\n

Impressive performance at left-back. \ud83d\udc4a pic.twitter.com\/MplOo6QHTc<\/a><\/p>\n

— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) January 8, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n