Despite losing at Elland Road to Leeds in the last game before the international break, Tottenham have gained a foothold after a disastrous start to the season. Roberto De Zerbi no longer tops the lists of Premier League managers who are sacked first, that honour is shared by Manchester United manager Michael Carrick and Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage.
Tottenham, who had an impressive spending this summer in the transfer market, will also buy this winter, there are still some holes to patch and positions to strengthen.
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Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi has put Alejandro Balde at the top of his wish list for the winter transfer window.
The 23-year-old Spanish national team left-back is one of Hansi Flick’s “discarded players” and they will together find a way out as soon as possible.
According to Goal, Barcelona will welcome the departure of the homegrown player after he lost his place under Flick. The club sets a minimum sum of €45 million – or a loan with a mandatory purchase option that guarantees a net capital gain in the Catalan club’s balance sheet.
Roberto De Zerbi needs the left side
The London club must immediately strengthen the left side due to Destiny Udogie’s physical irregularity and the high match load Andy Robertson has inflicted. De Zerbi believes that the Spanish-speaking defender has the ideal qualities – speed, attacking projection and retreat – to strengthen his tactical model in the Premier League. Balde’s loss of recognition at Spotify Camp Nou has been the trigger to activate the operation.
The full-back has barely had competitive continuity in La Liga following the emergence of homegrown Xavi Espart, who has won Hansi Flick’s trust to take over at left-back. With a contract until June 2028 and a €40 million valuation at Transfermarkt, the full-back – who has been a seven-time England international for Spain – is believed to need a change of scenery so as not to slow down his development.
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His agent, Jorge Mendes, has made direct contact with several of the most powerful projects on the continent to secure a destination where the full-back regains his role as the undisputed starter. In England, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Manchester United and Manchester City are keeping a close eye on the situation – as well as Tottenham.
In Italy, both Juventus and AS Roma have had initial meetings with the Portuguese agent to work out the financial conditions. For the board, led by Joan Laporta and Deco, the departure of the self-developed player represents an absolute net gain that will generate liquidity and free up wage costs for other market priorities.
Formal talks between Tottenham and the player’s entourage will intensify throughout the first weeks of December 2026. If the London club accepts the loan formula with mandatory purchase set at €45 million, Barcelona will approve the final departure of Alejandro Balde to Spurs at the beginning of 2027.
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