Manchester United's revamped recruitment setup may still be making the same old mistakes. After signing injury-prone defenders Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2024—both of whom have struggled to stay fit—the Red Devils are now reportedly eyeing another player with a similar track record.

According to Spanish outlet Sport, United have set their sights on Barcelona left-back Alejandro Balde. The 22-year-old Spaniard is known for his explosive pace and impressive ball-carrying ability, but persistent injuries have stunted his development at Camp Nou. With Joao Cancelo arriving in January, Balde has fallen down the pecking order under manager Hansi Flick, making him available for sale as Barcelona look to raise funds for the summer window.

The report suggests that an offer of around €50 million (£43.1m) could secure the full-back, despite his contract containing a staggering €1 billion (£865m) buy-out clause. United see Balde as a market opportunity, but there's a catch: the player himself is not yet convinced. As things stand, Balde wants to continue at Barcelona, and the club won't force him out.

For United, this feels like a familiar gamble. With Luke Shaw also struggling to stay consistently available, adding another injury-prone defender to the mix could be a risky move. Ineos would be wise to think twice before chasing a player who may not even want to leave, especially with other priorities on the table—like resolving Marcus Rashford's future, as Barcelona show reluctance to trigger his £26 million buy option and instead push for a reduced fee or another loan.

Sometimes, the best transfer decision is the one you don't make.