Manchester United’s search for a new left back is continuing, but Lewis Hall now looks to be an unlikely solution.

The Newcastle United defender had been viewed as one of the more intriguing possibilities for United, yet that notion has been weakened after his showing in the 2-2 draw with Liverpool. Hall played the full match and, despite being involved in the late penalty that allowed Dominik Szoboszlai to equalise, he spent much of the game dealing sharply with Liverpool’s Rio Ngumoha and Víctor Muñoz.

Even before the weekend, there had been talk of Newcastle’s strong commitment to keeping the 21-year-old. That stance has now been made plain, leaving United to assess other targets.

One of those alternatives could be found in Spain. Alejandro Balde was not included in Barcelona’s squad for their trip to Elche, and Hansi Flick made clear that the omission was not injury-related after a 5-0 defeat.

“I spoke with Balde this morning and told him that I think he’s not here at 100%, clear your mind and then we’ll talk,” the German coach bluntly revealed.

Balde’s path at Barcelona has already had several turns. After recovering from a serious tendon rupture, he became Flick’s first-choice left back in his breakthrough season, combining effectively with Raphinha on the overlap. But a hamstring problem at the start of last summer disrupted his build-up to the 2025-26 campaign, and he later lost his place to the returning João Cancelo.

The situation has become even more delicate after academy player Xavi Espart was preferred to both senior options against Elche. With Cancelo now permanently signed, Balde appears to be the most exposed of Barcelona’s left-back options.

Any move would still require United to meet Barcelona’s valuation, understood to be around $46.7 million (£34.2 million, €40 million). United’s spending is already set to rise above $200 million for a fifth straight season following the expected arrival of Carlos Baleba, while Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans have also arrived in midfield. Left back, though, remains a clear problem area.

Wayne Rooney has revealed that a move to Barcelona during his peak years was more than a passing idea, even if the deal never came close to completion. The former Manchester United forward said there was “a possibility” of joining Pep Guardiola’s side, adding another layer to one of the most intriguing transfer what-ifs of the modern era.

The story traces back to a tense period at Old Trafford. After Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez departed in back-to-back summers, Rooney went to Sir Alex Ferguson in August 2010 to question the club’s transfer direction. The response was immediate and unambiguous, with the manager telling him to leave his office.

A few months later, Rooney made his transfer request public, prompting interest from Chelsea, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Barcelona. On the United Stand podcast, he explained how realistic the Spanish option was. “It was a little bit [of a possibility],” Rooney revealed, “but financially it was difficult for them as well.”

He was enthusiastic about the idea. “I would’ve love to have played for Barcelona,” Rooney gushed. At the time, Barcelona already had Lionel Messi, Andrés Iniesta and Xavi Hernández at the heart of a side that dominated the era, yet Rooney felt his game could have fitted their structure. He pointed to their Champions League meetings with United and the absence of a fixed centre forward.

Rooney also understood that Guardiola had not built his attack around a traditional No. 9, despite the earlier arrival of Zlatan Ibrahimović. By the time Rooney considered leaving in January 2011, David Villa had already been brought in, with Pedro also established in the frontline.

Even so, Rooney’s admiration for the team was clear, and the feeling was mutual. Xavi described him as “a player I have admired for a long time. He is an extraordinary player with extraordinary capabilities.”

In the end, Rooney stayed put and remained United’s central attacking figure until Robin van Persie arrived in 2012. Across 2010-12, he led the side for starts, minutes and goals, while also contributing a significant number of assists.

Barcelona’s pursuit of Rodri looks set to do more than strengthen Hansi Flick’s midfield. It may also trigger a chain reaction across the market, with several squad players now facing uncertain futures.

The club already has six midfielders on its books, and the expectation is that the unit will remain largely fixed for years to come. That makes movement elsewhere almost unavoidable. One immediate consequence appears to be the exit of 19-year-old Tommy Marqués, who, according to The Athletic, is set to join Braga in a deal worth $14 million (€12 million). His wish to leave is being driven largely by the lack of minutes that would come with Rodri in the squad.

Marc Casadó is another player expected to move on. The 22-year-old’s future has been under discussion for some time, and Fabrizio Romano states that matters will now accelerate after Barcelona agreed to sign Rodri. Right back Héctor Fort is also expected to depart, although there is still a feeling that one bigger name could be moved out too.

The reason is straightforward: Barcelona do not have the financial room to simply keep adding players. The issue is not the transfer fee itself but La Liga’s wage cap. Rodri’s salary will make registration of other signings difficult, so departures are required to create space.

That space is being sought with a larger target in mind. Barcelona want to move on salaries in order to complete a deal for Atlético Madrid striker Julián Alvarez. The fee and wages would be significant, and with only two weeks left in the window, the club may have to impose a deadline before turning to an alternative striker. Sporting CP’s Luis Suárez and Hoffenheim’s Fisnik Asllani are among the names mentioned.

Rodri’s exit also leaves Man City with a major gap in midfield, something that was already evident before their Community Shield defeat to Arsenal. With Tijjani Reijnders also set to leave for Al Qadsiah, City could return to the market, with Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi emerging as a leading candidate. Interest in Chelsea’s Enzo Fernández is also active, and if City go that route, Chelsea may then be pushed into the market themselves.

As Enzo Maresca put it: “We knew already before the game the things we needed to do,” and “For sure, we are going to do something before the transfer [window] closes.”