Barcelona could reportedly decide to offer Alejandro Balde in a swap deal for Manchester City loanee Joao Cancelo.
After spending the second half of last season with Bayern Munich, Cancelo was allowed to head back out on loan at the start of the current campaign.
The Portugal international completed a temporary switch to Barcelona, where he has established himself as a regular fixture in Xavi's side.
Cancelo has made a total of 21 competitive appearances during his time with the Catalan giants, chipping in with three goals and two assists.
Although he has tended to be used on the right side of defence, Cancelo has also showcased his versatility as a left-back on several occasions this season.
© Reuters
Having impressed during his short time with the reigning La Liga champions, there is a belief that Barcelona will look into the possibility of converting his loan switch into a permanent transfer.
However, Barcelona's ongoing financial issues could prevent them from meeting Man City's asking price, which is believed to be in the region of £26m.
As a result, Sport are reporting that Barcelona could decide to offer Balde as part of their bid to secure Cancelo's services on a permanent basis.
Such a proposal may appeal to Man City boss Pep Guardiola, who has limited options on the left side of his defence.
While Sergio Gomez is Man City's only natural left-back, Guardiola has tended to utilise the likes of Josko Gvardiol and Nathan Ake in the position.
© Reuters
Although Barcelona have not ruled out the prospect of using Balde in a swap deal, they are currently reluctant to part ways with their academy product.
Balde, who has also been linked with Chelsea and Manchester United, signed a new deal in September to extend his stay with Barcelona until the summer of 2028.
Like Cancelo, the 20-year-old has enjoyed regular playing time this season, having featured in all but two of Barcelona's 24 competitive matches this term.
Balde and Cancelo are expected to be involved when Barcelona return from a short break to begin 2024 with an away fixture against Las Palmas on January 4.
