Man Utd’s decision to make Baleba their ‘third midfielder’

Manchester United are close to finalising their midfield rebuild this summer, with Brighton's Carlos Baleba lined up as their third new signing after Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans. An opening £65m bid (£60m plus £5m in add-ons) has been rejected as insufficient, but talks are continuing and a deal is expected to be completed. The move would complete a strategic reshaping of Michael Carrick's midfield following Casemiro's departure and reflects a shift in United's transfer approach towards quieter, faster-moving negotiations rather than protracted public pursuits.

United had previously tried to sign Baleba a year ago but withdrew when Brighton's valuation exceeded £100m; much of the groundwork was therefore already in place. Baleba, who has made 112 appearances since joining from Lille for £23.2m in 2023, is currently recovering from a pre-season ankle injury expected to keep him out a further couple of weeks. His pace and energy are seen as filling a gap exposed by a lacklustre display against AC Milan, complementing Santos's defensive screening and Tielemans's passing range, while other options such as Mason Mount remain sidelined through injury.