Liverpool and Chelsea have both tried to lure left-back Alex Balde away from Barcelona, according to reports in the Catalan media.

The Spanish Under 18 international is believed to be the next player from Barca’s famed youth academy to make his breakthrough into the first team after Ansu Fati.

Junior Firpo is currently Jordi Alba’s understudy at left-back but manager Ronald Koeman has opted to use right-back Sergino Dest instead of the former Betis defender when a reserve is needed.

With that being the case, Firpo could well leave the Camp Nou in January, leaving Balde in contention for first-team action. The teenager’s current deal expires in 2022, and Barcelona are keen to tie him down to a new deal to prevent him from leaving for the likes of Liverpool.

Balde is said to be happy to stay in Spain and, with the prospect of first-team football at Barca now increasingly likely, he is unlikely to consider leaving any time soon.