After an unexpected twist, Newcastle has reached out about a move for a “monster.”

The 19-year-old has 26 senior appearances for the Spanish club after rising through their development systems.

Despite being in the early phases of his career, the adolescent has caught the attention of two Premier League clubs.

According to a recent Sports story, Barcelona is having difficulty negotiating a new contract for Balde, which has piqued the curiosity of Newcastle and Arsenal, both of which have reportedly made contact with the player’s representation about a prospective transfer.

However, it is stated that this came as an unexpected twist as the discussions to renew Balde was progressing to sign a contract until 2027 with a release clause of €500 million (£441 million). However, ‘both the player and Barça are clear about his continuity, which astonished the side’s latest declarations, which left his future open.’

This season has seen Balde make 19 appearances for Xavi’s side across all competitions, chipping in with three assists along the way.

In fact, only two outfield figures have played more minutes in La Liga this season for Barcelona than the defender, which shows just how important he is for the team.

Predominantly a left-back, the youngster has also been deployed in the right-back position on some occasions this season, highlighting the versatility he has within him.

The full-back has shown how much of a useful defensive figure he is for the team as he has won more tackles (17) than any other player at the club and has made more blocks (13) and recoveries (73) than any of his fellow defenders.

Balde’s overall league performances have earned him a season rating of 6.98/10 from WhoScored, making him the eighth-highest-rated player at Barcelona above the likes of Sergio Busquets and Rafinha.

This all makes it easy to see why the Spanish club is keen to tie him down to a new deal and why Newcastle and Arsenal have set their sights on the player.

Touted to become a “monster” on the pitch by new Spain manager Luis De La Fuente, Balde has already shown what he’d be able to offer the Magpies and why making a potential offer for him could prove to be a very smart piece of business from the Tyneside club.