Why Manchester United Want Carlos Baleba to Complete Their £150m Midfield Rebuild
Manchester United are preparing for a major transformation in the heart of their midfield, with Brighton & Hove Albion star Carlos Baleba emerging as the club’s latest priority. After a relatively quiet transfer window by their usual standards, United supporters have understandably questioned whether enough is being done to strengthen the squad ahead of Michael Carrick’s first full season in charge.
Those concerns were heightened following United’s disappointing 4-2 defeat to AC Milan in their final pre-season fixture. The result, which also saw them come up against former manager Ruben Amorim, offered another reminder of the areas of the squad that still require attention.
Despite the lack of a large number of signings, however, United’s recruitment strategy has been concentrated on addressing one of their biggest weaknesses: central midfield. With elite midfielders commanding increasingly enormous transfer fees across the Premier League, United now appear to have an opportunity to complete a significant rebuild without spending quite as much as some of their rivals.
Manchester United Make £60m Move for Carlos Baleba
According to The Athletic, Manchester United have submitted an offer worth £60 million for Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba, with a further £5 million potentially available through add-ons.
The proposal is understood to fall short of Brighton’s current valuation of the Cameroon international. Nevertheless, it represents a significant change from last summer, when Brighton reportedly wanted a fee of more than £100 million for Baleba as United explored a potential deal.
Much has changed since then. United have moved away from Ruben Amorim’s rigid 3-4-2-1 system and are now operating under Carrick with a more conventional tactical structure. That change has also altered the club’s midfield requirements.
Baleba, meanwhile, endured a difficult campaign at Brighton last season. The 22-year-old was substituted on 15 occasions, including four times at half-time, while fitness problems also interrupted his progress. There was a growing belief that the uncertainty surrounding his future and United’s previous pursuit of him may have contributed to his inconsistent season.
However, United clearly remain convinced that Baleba’s underlying qualities make him worth another attempt. At just 22, the former Lille midfielder still has considerable room for development and possesses a combination of physical strength, technical ability and energy that could make him an important addition at Old Trafford.
United’s £150m Midfield Transformation
Should Brighton reject United’s opening proposal and demand a higher fee, the overall cost of the midfield rebuild could eventually move beyond £150 million.
United have already invested heavily in rebuilding the position, bringing in Andrey Santos from Chelsea for around £50 million and securing Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa for £35 million, thanks to the release clause in the Belgian midfielder’s contract.
Adding Baleba to those two acquisitions would give United a completely different midfield profile and provide Carrick with a much broader range of options.
Why Carlos Baleba Is Needed
The departure of Amorim was followed by a significant tactical change at Manchester United. Under the Portuguese coach, Bruno Fernandes was often required to operate in a deeper midfield role as part of the 3-4-2-1 formation. That limited his ability to influence matches in the final third, where he is arguably at his most dangerous.
Carrick’s arrival brought an immediate switch to a 4-2-3-1 system. Fernandes was given greater freedom to operate as a traditional No. 10, allowing him to push forward and contribute more directly to United’s attacking play.
Kobbie Mainoo also returned to greater prominence, while Casemiro rediscovered some of his best form before eventually receiving a farewell from the Old Trafford crowd at the end of the season.
However, Casemiro’s departure has created an obvious vacancy in the squad. United have also had to contend with Manuel Ugarte’s serious knee injury, suffered while representing Uruguay at the World Cup.
That combination has made midfield reinforcement a necessity rather than a luxury.
Tielemans offers United creativity and composure from deeper positions, while Santos provides a more disciplined and defensively minded presence. Baleba would add another important dimension: physicality.
The Brighton midfielder is naturally suited to a defensive midfield role, but his athleticism means he is capable of covering large areas of the pitch and contributing as a box-to-box midfielder. His ability to carry the ball, win challenges and drive forward could give United considerably more energy in the centre of the pitch.
Midfielders Are Becoming Extremely Expensive
United’s interest in Baleba comes at a time when the price of midfield talent has risen dramatically.
Manchester City have already demonstrated the scale of the current market by paying Nottingham Forest £116 million for Elliot Anderson. The fee briefly made Anderson the most expensive British player ever before Chelsea subsequently paid Aston Villa £117 million for England international Morgan Rogers.
If City eventually complete their reported pursuit of Chelsea and Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez, another enormous transfer fee could be involved.
Elsewhere, Lille’s highly rated Moroccan teenager Ayyoub Bouaddi has reportedly been valued at around £85 million, while Tottenham have spent a similar amount to sign Matheus Fernandes from relegated West Ham.
Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali has also been linked with a move to north London worth up to £100 million, while Arsenal paid £75 million to bring Bruno Guimaraes away from Newcastle.
Against that backdrop, United’s potential £60m-plus deal for Baleba could prove to be particularly valuable if the player fulfils his considerable potential.
For United, the objective is clear: build a stronger, more athletic and technically balanced midfield around the new-look team. With Santos and Tielemans already arriving and Baleba now being targeted, Carrick could soon have the midfield foundation required to take Manchester United into a new era.
