Barcelona open to deploying two La Masia stars at left-back next season – report

Alejandro Balde’s evolution is one aspect every Barcelona fan will be looking keenly towards over the coming year.

After all, Hansi Flick developed Alphonso Davies into one of the best in the business during his stint at Bayern Munich and is capable of doing the same with Barcelona’s academy graduate.

While Balde will serve as the team’s primary mainstay at left-back, the club must have a backup ready in place. After their experience of being short-staffed in the department last season, it is seen as a necessity.

Two young names probed

As revealed in a recent update by AS, Barcelona are evaluating two names to serve as the deputy left-back next season: Gerard Martin and Alex Valle.

Both players travelled with Hansi Flick’s side for the recently concluded pre-season tour in the United States and impressed in the few minutes they were provided.

The 22-year-old Martin started Barcelona’s clash against Manchester City and even provided one assist on the night. Subsequently, he played 45 and 78 minutes respectively against Real Madrid and AC Milan and was relatively solid in that period.

Valle, meanwhile, played 155 minutes over the three games and recorded one assist against Real Madrid. Notably, however, he featured as a right-back on all three occasions.

A shocking target

While indeed Flick does have options in the academy he can count on, the possibility of Barcelona going for a new signing is not ruled out.

In what came as a shocking revelation, however, the Catalans are eyeing a move for former Real Madrid fullback Sergio Reguilon from Tottenham Hotspur.

The Premier League side are also looking to get the player off their books and a move can materialise if the price is right. After all, Reguilon’s manager even confirmed the Catalans’ interest earlier this week.