Manchester United’s midfield plans have become clearer following the reported departure of Carlos Baleba, with debate now centering on whether the left-back is the last major priority before the transfer window closes.
Manchester United look set to complete one of the most exciting deals of the summer, with Carlos Baleba set to join from Brighton.
Sky Sports report that United are close to reaching a comprehensive agreement with a five-year deal in place and the 22-year-old is expected to travel to Manchester ahead of a medical once the final details between the two clubs are ironed out. The entire deal is expected to be worth more than £60 million.
If United can get it done around that number, I think it represents excellent business.
Why Baleba seems like the right type of trade
At just 22 years old, Baleba already has a wealth of Premier League experience and provides Carrick with what his midfield has been craving: strength, athleticism, recovery speed and the ability to carry the ball under pressure.
Perhaps most encouragingly, this isn’t a name United are suddenly turning to late in the transfer window. Sky Sports say Baleba remains one of the club’s main targets, with United having inquired about him as early as the January transfer window.
He will join Andre Santos and Youri Tielemans in completely changing Michael Carrick’s midfield options. Tielemans joined for £35 million earlier this summer and Santos for around £50 million.
Suddenly, United could choose from the likes of Baleba, Santos, Tielemans, Mainu, Bruno and Mount. This is a completely different midfield lineup than Manchester United last season.
£60m+? context matters
Transfer fees have become ridiculous, but context matters.
There is no way Manchester United would pay more than £60 million for a player who is nearly 30 years old and has a low resale value. They are buying a 22-year-old Premier League midfielder who is likely to occupy the position for the next seven or eight years.
Brighton reportedly valued Baleba at over £100m last summer alone, with Manchester United also interested but unwilling to get anywhere near that figure. Therefore, bringing him in for a fee that could be closer to £60m now looks particularly attractive.
There will obviously be concerns about the ankle ligament injury he suffered in pre-season, but Sky report that the issue is not expected to keep him out for a long period of time. Assuming there are no issues with the medical, this feels like the kind of player United should sign: young, proven in the Premier League, with huge physical attributes, still capable of significantly improving, and bought for the team rather than because he’s the most famous player.
So what does Manchester United need now?
For me, priorities have changed a lot. A few weeks ago I would have said defensive midfield, left back, forward and probably left wing. If Baleba signs, I think things will get a lot easier.
The left back is undoubtedly the team’s biggest weakness right now. Patrick Dolgu is looking increasingly dangerous up front, while Luke Shaw is the only natural senior left-back at the moment.
Diogo Dalot and Mazraoui could fill the void, but United are back in the Champions League and will compete in four competitions. It would be a huge gamble to build the season around Shaw’s remaining available minutes each week.
Sky Sports reported a few days ago that Manchester United still need a left-back after pre-season, and Carrick has publicly stated that he hopes to add one before the transfer window closes.
Left-back selection and forward debate
Louis Hall is still my first choice. He is 21 years old and has proven in England and the Premier League that he has the technical ability to play as a traditional overlapping full-back or cut inside to help control the midfield. The problem is Newcastle. United have made inquiries and Newcastle have told them Hall is not for sale. That doesn’t necessarily mean the conversation is over, especially so late in the transfer window, but United will almost certainly have to make a big enough offer to Newcastle to force them to reconsider. If the price wasn’t completely ridiculous, he’d be the one I’d be fighting for.
Miles Lewis Skelly is even more interesting now. The Guardian recently reported that Manchester United have made an offer for Lewis Skelly, with Arsenal’s offer likely to be around £45 million. It is understood that Manchester United are considering this possibility. At 19 years old, he has huge room for improvement. He can play at left-back but also has the technical qualities to play in midfield, giving Carrick another tactical option. Paying £45m for Lewis Skelly, rather than convincing Newcastle it might cost more to sell Hall, is a truly interesting decision. If Arsenal were really willing to sell to Manchester United, I would consider it very carefully.
Anthony Robinson remains another solid option and is being monitored along with Hall. He probably offers the most immediate certainty: proven Premier League quality, a powerful engine and great ability going forward. The only drawback is age. Robinson is approaching 29, Hall is 21, and Lewis-Skelly is only 19. If United are going to spend upwards of £40m, I hope they find someone capable of filling the role for the next five-plus seasons.
The Guardian also named RB Leipzig’s David Laum as one of the players United could assess. The 28-year-old would again be an immediate solution rather than a long-term investment, but he is an experienced attacking left-back who could become important if Hall proves impossible and United decide Lewis Skelly is not the right fit.
My order at left guard is Louis Hall, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Anthony Robinson, and then David Laum. Hall remains my favourite, but with a reported price tag of £45m, Lewis Skelly suddenly looks very tempting.
A few weeks ago I would have said that Manchester United needed another striker. Now, I’m increasingly thinking no, at least not this summer. Sky Sports reports that as things stand, another striker is unlikely to emerge, with Marcus Rashford’s return providing Carrick with another solution. Rashford fully reintegrated into the team under Carrick and participated in the final stage of pre-season with the team.
Manchester United already have Benjamin Cescó, Joshua Zirkzee, Marcus Rashford, Matheus Cunha and Brian Mbemo, several of whom are capable of focusing on the field. Sesko should remain the preferred ninth pick and continue to develop. If Rashford does back Carrick’s project again, there’s no point in spending another £50m-70m on Watkins or Matata just to add another body.
Rashford can play centrally when necessary, Cunha can play centrally, Mbemo can cut inside, and Zirkzee has shown encouraging signs in pre-season. The offense has a lot of variety. Save the money and give Cesc the chance to be the striker United buy, give Rashford a fresh start and re-evaluate the position next summer if necessary.
The same argument applies to the left. Dolgu is looking increasingly interesting up front and Carrick clearly sees the attacking potential there. Coupled with the ability of the reintegrated Rashford and Cunha to start from the left, United suddenly no longer desperately need another winger.
If Baleba crosses the line, I really struggle to remember the recent Manchester United transfer window feeling so coherent. United are not simply accumulating names. They seem to have discovered weaknesses and attacked them.
Andrey Santos adds energy, mobility and huge potential. Youri Tielemans adds experience, delivery quality and control. Carlos Baleba will add strength, ball-winning ability and athleticism. Rashford’s return may eliminate the need to invest heavily in another attacker, while Dolgu’s further development provides another attacking option.
That leaves one glaring hole: left back. Get Lewis Hall or Miles Lewis-Skelly in and, to me, you close the transfer window. Then it was Michael Carrick’s turn. For the first time in a long time, United didn’t just have a good starting XI. They will have a squad that looks capable of competing in the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup. Find the left back and let’s go.
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