Leeds United and Southampton have expressed an interest in Thierno Balde with the Paris Saint-Germain prospect due to become a free agent at the end of this month, according to L’Equipe.
PSG have seen a staggering amount of young talent slip through the net over the last few years, from Matteo Guendouzi to Ousmane Dembele, Odsonne Edouard to Kingsley Coman, and it seems that the summer of 2020 will be no different.
Adil Aouchiche, a dazzling goalscoring midfielder who has broken a 36-year record by Michel Platini already in his young career, is on the verge of joining St Etienne. Tanguy Kouassi, a teenage centre-half who has made 11 appearances under Thomas Tuchel, has one foot out of the door too.
And now attention is turning to Balde.
The teenage right-back is yet to force his way into PSG’s first-team plans but, like Aouchiche and Kouassi (below), he could leave the Parc des Princes for absolutely free on July 1.
L’Equipe report that Leeds and Southampton have expressed an interest though the Ligue 1 champions have not given up hope of keeping Balde around. He has been offered a new contract, though it remains to be seen whether he will be lured away by the prospect of first-team football elsewhere.
In Marcelo Bielsa and Ralph Hasenhuttl, Leeds and Southampton both have coaches famed for their ability to help young players realise their potential. Just ask Ander Herrera, Kalvin Phillips, Ben White, Timo Werner, Naby Keita and more.
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