Manchester United have officially unveiled their new £40 million Dutch striker, who has been given a legendary shirt number upon his arrival in Manchester today. This marks the beginning of the club’s summer rebuild under manager Ruben Amorim.
United have already made moves to bolster their attack, with deals in motion for Wolverhampton’s Matheus Cunha and a bid submitted for Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo. Another major target is Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres as the club searches for a reliable number nine.
While the focus has been heavily on upgrading the forward line after a poor season in front of goal, attention is also turning to midfield reinforcements. Despite options like Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo, Manuel Ugarte, and Toby Collyer, United still lack balance in the center of the pitch.
One potential solution is Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba. The 21-year-old Cameroonian midfielder, who joined Brighton in 2023, made a significant impact in the Premier League last season. He played in 34 matches, scoring three goals and assisting once. His standout performance came against Manchester City in November, where he showcased his physical strength, intelligent positioning, and ability to break lines with passes and carries.
While Ugarte brings physicality, Baleba offers more in terms of dictating play and progression. Tactically, he’s not flawless—he can sometimes overcommit—but his ability to cover ground and win possession makes him ideal for Amorim’s style. Baleba averaged 6.5 possession recoveries per 90 minutes, ranking seventh among midfielders in the league. He also excelled in forward passing and progressive carries, placing fourth in the league per 90 minutes in the latter category.
From a transfer perspective, Baleba fits United’s current strategy: young, Premier League-proven talent with high potential. While Brighton would likely demand more than his estimated €40 million market value, United have shown a willingness to invest in young stars—like Leny Yoro last summer.
Financially, United’s situation under Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) is manageable, and the club could generate additional funds by selling players such as Antony, Sancho, Rashford, or Garnacho.
All things considered, if the finances and opportunity align, signing Carlos Baleba would be a highly strategic move for Manchester United.
