Baleba Talk Shifts United Focus to Left-Back

Manchester United’s midfield plans feel clearer with Carlos Baleba reportedly close, and the debate now centres on whether left-back is the final major priority before the window shuts.

Manchester United appear to be on the verge of completing what could be one of the most exciting deals of their summer, with Carlos Baleba close to joining from Brighton.

Sky Sports reports that United are close to a full agreement, with a five-year contract already prepared and the 22-year-old expected to travel to Manchester ahead of a medical once the final details between the clubs are concluded. The overall deal is expected to be worth in excess of £60m.

If United get this completed around that sort of figure, I think it represents excellent business.

Why Baleba looks the right type of deal

Baleba is only 22, already has extensive Premier League experience and gives Carrick something his midfield has been crying out for: power, athleticism, recovery speed and the ability to carry the ball through pressure.

Perhaps most encouragingly, this is not a name United have suddenly turned to late in the window. Sky Sports says Baleba has remained one of the club’s leading targets, with United having enquired about him as far back as the January window.

He would join Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans, completely transforming the midfield options available to Carrick. Tielemans arrived for £35m and Santos for around £50m earlier this summer.

Suddenly United can choose from the likes of Baleba, Santos, Tielemans, Mainoo, Bruno and Mount. That is a completely different midfield group from the one United entered last season with.

£60m-plus? Context matters

Transfer fees have become ridiculous, but context matters.

United are not potentially paying £60m-plus for a player approaching 30 with little resale value. They are buying a 22-year-old Premier League midfielder who could conceivably occupy the position for the next seven or eight years.

Brighton’s valuation of Baleba was being reported at more than £100m only last summer, when United were also interested but unwilling to go anywhere near that figure. Getting him now for a figure potentially much closer to the £60m mark therefore looks particularly attractive.

There will obviously be some concern over the ankle ligament injury he suffered during pre-season, but Sky reports that the problem is not expected to keep him out for an extended period. Assuming the medical presents no concerns, this feels like exactly the type of signing United should be making: young, Premier League proven, huge physical upside, still capable of improving significantly, and bought for the team rather than because he is the biggest name available.

So what do United need now?

For me, the priorities have changed considerably. A few weeks ago I would have said defensive midfielder, left-back, striker, and possibly left wing. If Baleba signs, I think that becomes much simpler.

Left-back is now comfortably the biggest remaining weakness in the squad. Patrick Dorgu looks increasingly dangerous playing higher up the pitch, while Luke Shaw is currently the only natural senior left-back.

Dalot and Mazraoui can fill in, but United are back in the Champions League and will be competing across four competitions. Building the season around Shaw remaining available every week would be an enormous gamble.

Sky Sports reported only days ago that United still need a left-back following pre-season, while Carrick has openly said he wants further additions before the window closes.

Left-back options and the striker debate

Lewis Hall remains my preferred option. He is 21, English, Premier League proven and has the technical ability to play as a conventional overlapping full-back or step inside and help control midfield. The problem is Newcastle. United have already made an enquiry and Newcastle have told them Hall is not for sale. That does not necessarily mean the conversation is finished, particularly this late in a transfer window, but United would almost certainly have to make Newcastle an offer sufficiently large to force them to reconsider. If the price is not completely ridiculous, he is the one I would push hardest for.

Myles Lewis-Skelly has now become much more interesting. The Guardian recently reported that Lewis-Skelly has been offered to United, with Arsenal potentially looking for around £45m. United are understood to be considering the possibility. At 19, his upside is enormous. He can operate at left-back but also has the technical qualities to play in midfield, which gives Carrick another tactical option. £45m for Lewis-Skelly versus potentially considerably more to persuade Newcastle to sell Hall is a genuinely interesting decision. If Arsenal are really willing to sell to United, I would be looking very closely at it.

Antonee Robinson remains another credible option and has been monitored alongside Hall. He would probably provide the most immediate certainty: proven Premier League quality, tremendous engine and excellent going forward. The downside is simply age profile. Robinson is approaching 29 whereas Hall is 21 and Lewis-Skelly only 19. If United are going to spend £40m-plus, I would prefer them to secure someone capable of owning the position for the next five-plus seasons.

The Guardian has also named RB Leipzig’s David Raum among the players United could assess. At 28 he would again be more of an immediate solution than a long-term investment, but he is an experienced attacking left-back and could become relevant if Hall proves impossible and United decide Lewis-Skelly is not the right profile.

My left-back order is Lewis Hall, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Antonee Robinson, then David Raum. Hall remains my favourite, but at a reported £45m, Lewis-Skelly suddenly becomes very tempting.

A few weeks ago I would have said United needed another striker. Now, I am increasingly thinking no, at least not this summer. Sky Sports reported that, as things stand, another forward is unlikely, with Marcus Rashford’s return providing Carrick with another solution up front. Rashford has been fully reintegrated under Carrick and travelled with the squad for the final stages of pre-season.

United already have Benjamin Sesko, Joshua Zirkzee, Marcus Rashford, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, with several of those players capable of operating centrally. Sesko should remain the first-choice number nine and continue developing. If Rashford genuinely buys into Carrick’s project again, there is little point spending another £50m to £70m on a Watkins or Mateta simply to add another body.

Rashford can play through the middle when necessary, Cunha can operate centrally, Mbeumo can move inside and Zirkzee has shown encouraging signs during pre-season. That is plenty of attacking variety. Save the money, give Sesko the opportunity to become the striker United bought him to be, give Rashford a clean slate, and reassess the position next summer if necessary.

The same argument applies on the left. Dorgu has looked increasingly interesting further forward and Carrick clearly sees attacking potential there. Add a reintegrated Rashford and Cunha’s ability to start from the left and suddenly United are not desperate for another winger either.

If Baleba crosses the line, I am genuinely struggling to remember a recent United transfer window that has felt this coherent. United have not simply accumulated names. They appear to have identified weaknesses and attacked them.

Andrey Santos adds energy, mobility and enormous potential. Youri Tielemans adds experience, passing quality and control. Carlos Baleba would add power, ball-winning ability and athleticism. Rashford’s return potentially removes the need to spend heavily on another attacker, and Dorgu’s development further forward provides another attacking option.

Which leaves one glaring hole: left-back. Get Lewis Hall or Myles Lewis-Skelly through the door and, for me, you can shut the transfer window. Then it is over to Michael Carrick. For the first time in quite a while, United would not simply have a good starting XI. They would have a squad that looks capable of competing properly across the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup. Get the left-back and let’s go.

Written by Philip_hunter2003 August 19 2026 18:29:17