Barcelona are reportedly willing to offer Alejandro Balde on a short-term loan as part of the deal to sign Nicolas Tagliafico from Ajax.
According to reputed Italian journalist Rudy Galetti, Barcelona are stepping up their efforts to sign Nicolas Tagliafico before the January transfer window slams shut. The Catalan giants are prepared to offer Alejandro Balde on a six-month loan to Ajax as part of the deal to sign the 29-year-old Argentine international.
Nicolas Tagliafico has gone from being one of the best full-backs in Europe to a bit-part player for Ajax in the past year. A slight dip in form has proven to be detrimental to the player’s fortunes, with Daley Blind becoming the first-choice left-back for the Dutch giants in the ongoing season.
The 29-year-old has started only six of the 29 games played by Ajax this season, chipping in with two goals and an assist. And the Argentine international’s frustrations have rightly boiled over, which is why he is seeking a January exit from Ajax. Tagliafico has no shortage of suitors either, with Barcelona among his prospective suitors.
The Catalan giants hold a long-standing interest in Tagliafico, having attempted to sign him on previous occasions. They remain in pursuit of the 29-year-old as Jordi Alba has regressed considerably in the last few years and is no longer reliable enough to be the undisputed first-choice left-back for Barcelona.
According to recent reports, Tagliafico is also keen on joining Barcelona and has recently stalled on talks with other suitors. With Alejandro Balde slow to get settled into the environs of the first-team setup at Camp Nou, the need to bring in someone like the Argentine international has increased.
The Catalan giants are now ready to step up their efforts to land Tagliafico, with a package readied to secure his services. Barcelona will offer Balde on a six-month loan to Ajax as part of the deal to sign Tagliafico. The Blaugrana’s run at the player has further been cleared after Napoli reportedly pulled out of the chase.
If Barcelona’s proposal is accepted, the 29-year-old Argentine international will join the La Liga heavyweights on an initial loan deal, with the club reserving the option to sign him permanently for around €7 million, his reported price tag. With Tagliafico keen on joining Barcelona, it might only be a matter of time before he moves to Camp Nou.
