FC Barcelona is seriously considering accepting a $54 million (€50 million) bid from Chelsea for one of its players according to El Nacional, which cited anonymous sources.
Alejandro Balde got his first start in professional football from Ronald Koeman, but truly made his bones in 2022/2023 under the fired head coach's fellow club midfield legend and successor Xavi Hernandez.
The youngster was an integral part of the Barca outfit that won its first La Liga title in four years that term, and seemed to have the left back spot nailed down to that extent that he phased out Jordi Alba, who decided to move on and join Lionel Messi at Inter Miami.
The current campaign started in the same vein, but Balde struggled to maintain the same form that had seen him talked up as one of Barca's best prospects coming out of La Masia.
Then at the turn of 2024, things went from bad to worse as the 20-year-old suffered an injury that required a season-ending surgery.
With Marcos Alonso also often sidelined with his own knocks, the development has seen Xavi have to deploy right back Joao Cancelo on the opposite flank.
When required, Hector Fort has also done a sterling job playing out of position and forms a group of academy graduates led by Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi which seems to be the future of the club.
As cash-strapped Barca reportedly needs to make big player sales to balance Financial Fair Play and return to the 1:1 rule, Chelsea is ready to test the Catalans' resolve on Balde according to El Nacional.
The west London club co-owned by Todd Boehly has made a $54 million bid which is being "seriously considered" by president Joan Laporta.
Above all, however, Barca would want the Premier League giants to table something closer to the price that Balde has been valued at, which is currently $75.5 million (€70 million).
Given the rise of Fort and impressive form of Cancelo, whose loan move from Manchester City is likely to be made permanent, Barca could probably afford to part with Balde from a sporting prospective and be enriched in the process.