Manchester United’s summer midfield reconstruction appears to be moving towards its final and potentially most important piece, with Carlos Baleba emerging as the player the club want to complete their new-look engine room.
After signing Andrey Santos from Chelsea and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa in quick succession last month, Manchester United spent much of the summer transfer window surrounded by speculation over the identity of their so-called third midfielder. Several names were linked, including Aurelien Tchouameni, Alex Scott, Manu Kone, Sander Berge and Tyler Adams.
Yet United have now made their move for Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba, submitting an opening offer of £60 million plus £5 million in add-ons. The bid is not expected to be enough, but negotiations are continuing, and there is growing expectation that a deal could eventually be completed.
For Manchester United, the pursuit of Carlos Baleba is about more than simply adding another midfielder. It reflects a wider attempt to reshape an area of the squad that had become increasingly thin and unbalanced.
Carlos Baleba Could Complete Manchester United’s Midfield Rebuild
Manchester United’s midfield required significant attention heading into the 2026-27 season.
Casemiro left after his contract expired on 30 June, while the departure of Ruben Amorim had already resulted in Bruno Fernandes operating in a more advanced position. Manuel Ugarte, despite arriving for £50.8 million, was not considered highly enough to be central to the club’s plans.
That left Kobbie Mainoo as the only experienced midfielder expected to play a prominent role before United entered the summer transfer window.
The club moved quickly to change that situation. Andrey Santos arrived first, followed less than 24 hours later by Youri Tielemans. The two new signings even started alongside each other in midfield against AC Milan during the pre-season fixture in Wroclaw.
However, United still lacked another important profile.
Mainoo is particularly effective at receiving possession in tight areas and carrying the ball forward. Santos has impressed with his ability to protect the defence, while Tielemans offers composure and an excellent range of passing and wants to increase his contribution in front of goal.
What United’s defeat to AC Milan highlighted, however, was a shortage of energy and mobility in midfield.
That is where Carlos Baleba enters the picture.
The Brighton midfielder’s ability to cover ground quickly makes him a natural fit for the box-to-box role United believe is still missing. If the transfer is completed, manager Michael Carrick would have far greater variety across his midfield options.
Why Carlos Baleba Became United’s Third Midfielder
The search for a third midfielder has dominated much of Manchester United’s transfer discussion over the past five weeks.
Tchouameni was heavily linked at different stages, while Scott, Kone, Berge and Adams were all mentioned as possible targets. Until recently, United had also privately played down suggestions of serious interest in Carlos Baleba.
Yet the club had already done considerable groundwork on the Brighton player.
In that sense, the latest move did not emerge from nowhere. Manchester United were prepared to act when the circumstances became right, and they have now submitted their first formal proposal.
Brighton are not expected to accept the initial £60 million offer plus £5 million in add-ons, but talks remain ongoing. The expectation is that negotiations will continue as United attempt to reach an agreement.
Baleba is currently recovering from an ankle injury suffered during pre-season and is expected to be unavailable for another couple of weeks. However, that has not prevented United from pushing forward with their plans.
Once fit, Carlos Baleba could add precisely the athleticism that United felt was missing against AC Milan.
He would also provide Carrick with tactical flexibility. Alongside Mainoo, Santos and Tielemans, United could call upon Mason Mount, Scotland World Cup squad member Tyler Fletcher and, if required, Fernandes.
The options would represent a dramatic transformation from the limited midfield group the club appeared to have at the start of the summer.
A Different Manchester United Transfer Strategy
The pursuit of Carlos Baleba also highlights what appears to be a more controlled approach to recruitment at Old Trafford.
In previous transfer windows, Manchester United were often publicly linked with players for long periods before eventually struggling to complete a deal.
The pursuit of Frenkie de Jong in 2022 remains a prominent example. Then-manager Erik ten Hag believed a transfer could be completed despite recruitment staff receiving indications that a deal was unlikely.
United continued their efforts deep into the summer before finally accepting defeat. By that point, early-season losses to Brighton and Brentford had increased the pressure, and the club eventually completed a £70 million move for Casemiro.
This summer transfer window has unfolded differently.
United’s recruitment work has been carried out with considerably more discretion. Talk surrounding Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson helped obscure the club’s actual thinking around their initial midfield targets, particularly because Anderson was understood to be financially beyond their reach.
The Santos deal was completed within a week, while the Tielemans transfer took even less time.
There was also internal consideration over using Mason Mount as the third midfield option because of his impressive early pre-season form. However, Mount has yet to return after suffering a foot injury against Paris St-Germain on 8 August, despite his withdrawal initially being described as precautionary.
His latest setback also renewed concerns about his injury record.
With Carlos Baleba now the subject of a concrete bid, Manchester United’s plans appear clearer. A player who was reportedly off the radar has suddenly become the leading candidate to complete the midfield rebuild.
Premier League Experience Matters in the Summer Transfer Window
Manchester United’s recruitment strategy has increasingly focused on players with Premier League experience.
Of the four players signed in 2025, only striker Benjamin Sesko and goalkeeper Senne Lammens arrived from outside the Premier League. The successful adaptation of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha appears to have reinforced the value United place on players already familiar with English football.
Tielemans also brings extensive Premier League experience, while Santos and the potential signing of Carlos Baleba would continue that trend.
Buying from Premier League clubs often requires a significant financial premium because English clubs are financially strong and do not need to sell cheaply. However, Manchester United appear willing to accept the higher cost because of the reduced risk associated with adaptation.
Baleba has already made 112 appearances for Brighton since joining from Lille for £23.2 million in August 2023.
That experience makes him a more established Premier League option, even at a considerable price.
United’s willingness to pursue him during the summer transfer window suggests they believe the additional cost is justified by what he could offer the team.
Carlos Baleba Cannot Be United’s Final Summer Addition
If Manchester United complete the signing of Carlos Baleba, their midfield reconstruction will be close to complete.
Santos, Tielemans, Mainoo and Baleba would give Carrick a variety of profiles, from defensive protection and ball progression to passing quality, creativity and athleticism.
However, United’s work in the summer transfer window may not end there.
Carrick recently made his ambition clear when he said: “We want more, we need more.”
The club are understood to recognise that the need for a new left-back remains urgent. No clear candidate has yet emerged, but the expectation is that United will continue searching for another addition before the transfer window closes.
For now, though, the focus is firmly on Brighton.
The opening bid for Carlos Baleba is unlikely to be enough, but Manchester United have made their intentions clear. Talks are continuing, and after a summer of speculation surrounding the mysterious third midfielder, the answer may finally be close.
If United get the deal over the line, Carlos Baleba could become the final piece in one of Old Trafford’s most significant midfield rebuilds in years.
