Barcelona Transfer News: Dani Alves Not Worth Blaugrana's Reinvestment in 2015

Contrary to recent reports, Dani Alves has not sealed a pre-contract agreement with Manchester United, leaving the door open for Barcelona to potentially extend their right-back's deal at the Camp Nou.

As things stand, Alves' contract will expire next summer, and after Spanish agent Francois Gallardo claimed that a move to Old Trafford was already in place, Bleacher Report's Guillem Balague professed otherwise:

Balague states that for Barca to extend the 31-year-old's terms, it would require a reduction in his wages, but even then the value of a player whose best days in Spain are behind him is debatable.

Last week, Alves' agent Dinora Santana pledged that if the Catalan giants wished to retain the defender's services, they would have tied down his loyalties already, per Alex Harris of the Daily Star:

"If the club [Barcelona] wanted to renew Alves they would have done it already. I would not do things the way they have. We will leave the suitors until December or January... then we'll decide who to marry."

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That isn't to say the Brazilian international is without worth, but for a club expected to consistently boast elite talent in every position—or at least potential stars—Alves doesn't represent a good investment of time or money.

Another club may be more willing to meet his high demands, which the Daily Star's Nick Lustig states as being £250,000 a week in wages and a contract at least two years in length.

Given his age, it's a short-term deal that Barca can't afford to entertain, and even with the impending transfer ban of 2015 impeding them from landing replacements next year, the club must resist the urge.

Over the summer, full-back Douglas was brought in from Sao Paulo following a prolonged engagement in negotiations, and Luis Enrique would be wise to give his new defender a bigger bite of the cherry in coming months.

To spend €4 million on the unassuming defender, Barca must have some sense of confidence in the Brazilian. Granted, one can't expect Douglas to fill Alves' boots immediately, but first-team experience is one route to improvement.

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Alves is far from the marauding, rounded star of years gone by, and the defensive frailties that have long existed in his game are more gaping holes these days.

His production rate in attack is still significant, having made 12 scoring chances in just six La Liga appearances this season, per Squawka. David Cartlidge of beIN Sports rates the veteran as the best right-back in La Liga history:

However, that's based largely on the Alves of days gone by, and with the salary now attached to his name in the condition he finds himself in, the Blaugrana should opt to cut ties.

Hanging onto the player at this stage would be a move of desperation, a yearning to squeeze out the last few drops of a drying resource, which should by all means be left to refuel elsewhere.