Manchester United enter race for Spanish full-back

Manchester United are reported to have joined Tottenham Hotspur in the race to sign Jordi Alba from Barcelona. The 29-year-old has been a credible performer for the Spanish champions over the past six seasons but his future has been put into doubt with his contract yet to be extended.
According to Don Balon, United boss Jose Mourinho is keen to bolster the left side of the backline during the summer and Alba has been earmarked as one of the prime options on his shortlist. It is added that Spurs are also keen on the former Valencia man and a potential bidding battle may arise, should the Blaugrana sanction his exit.
Regardless of this, Alba has suggested that he would like to see off the remainder of his career with the Catalan giants, though the club have yet to take the decision to extend his contract beyond the summer of 2020.
United have genuinely had concerns in the left-back position since the departure of Patrick Evra in 2014 and during this period, they have swapped between multiple options whilst Antonio Valencia has remained a constant in the opposite end of the backline.
At present, Ashley Young is the prime candidate occupying the left-back spot despite being a winger by trade and a player of Alba’s calibre would certainly be a qualify upgrade, though the transfer fee may prove a stumbling block.
United have indeed made a strong impression in the transfer market with a couple of big-money moves for Paul Pogba and Romelu Lukaku in recent summer transfer windows but this has not encouraged them to spend freely without judgement.
As such, the club’s hierarchy would surely evaluate the resale value of any player arriving at Old Trafford and Alba, who is approaching his 30th birthday, may not be seen as worthwhile purchase for any sum above £50m.