This topic just randomly popped into my head.
This also isn't me jumping the gun saying that 'Baleba is coming and that we have to sell someone in midfield to get it done' but for me, it's clear that if United were to sign this promising talent, we would need to sacrifice someone in order to bring him in? It's clear that at least one player has to go.
Obviously this is all coming from the fact that United have made contact with Brighton over a move for midfielder Carlos Baleba. David Ornstein and many others came out with this news and it kind of sent everyone into meltdown. This too was not long after it was pretty much confirmed that Benjamin Sesko wants United and only United [Fabrizio Romano].
Kind of a crazy day in terms of transfers for MUFC.
Nothing is set in stone - we haven't even had a 'Here we go' (yet) for Sesko - and Brighton's CEO did say that United didn't contact him for a move for Baleba ("United have not been in touch with me" [BBC via UtdXclusive_]) with indykaila News saying that they could offer him a new contract to fend off United, but the fact that these reports are coming out from top-tier journalists gives you a feeling of this is legit.
Ornstein did however, add that this potential deal would be really difficult but it isn't impossible.
As we know with the Seagulls though, they do demand high fees for their players especially for the top talents wanted by the big clubs. Talk is that Baleba will cost something in the region of £100m. That makes sense considering he is a similar profile to Moises Caicedo who was sold to Chelsea for over £100m.
To be able to pay such a fee, United will have to sell players. We did have enough money to pay £207m but that went towards the signings of Matheus Cunha (£62.5m), Bryan Mbeumo (£71m) and Sesko (£65m + £8m add-ons).
There is also discussion that striker Rasmus Hojlund is aware that his time at the club might be up once Sesko signs with reports suggesting that the club are willing to accept a fee of £30m for the Dane [Pete Hall via UtdXclusive_].
We also have the bomb sqaud of Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho, Antony and Tyrell Malacia. All of whom should generate some cash that could help fund a Baleba move. There was also the £6m United received from Anthony Elanga moving to Newcastle due to a sell-on clause.
Getting rid of these players is the hard part though. Other than Garnacho, I haven't seen any club try to sign Antony - Real Betis want a loan deal, Dortmund would like Sancho with a fee of £15m-£17m in the offing, and who knows what's the story with Malacia.
When you put it like this, that Baleba deal looks mighty difficult indeed.
Who to sell in midfield?
Coming back to my point, while the sales of the bomb squad is needed for multiple reasons, United would still have quite a few midfielders as none of Garnacho, Sancho, Antony and Malacia play in the centre of the park.
Casemiro
Manuel Ugarte
Toby Collyer
Kobbie Mainoo
Bruno Fernandes
Five midfielders for two positions is too many. Ironically though, despite having too many options, you would still say that another is needed. None of these five appear to cut the mustard as pre-season showed us that a big weakness of this team is it's midfield.
There has been talk of Ruben Amorim wanting more dynamism in midfield with Baleba being his ideal target to sort this issue out.
The problem is that, when you look Baleba, he is more of a no 8 than a CDM. As that no 8, he is a progressive ball-carrier, aggressive in the press, has great stamina and provides that dynamism Amorim wants.
While he can play as a no 6, that is a position where he can 'do a job' as they say. He lacks that positional discipline needed in that role and isn't someone who controls the tempo of the game as some CDMs do.
So if he is a no 8, that would mean that we would have him, Mainoo and Bruno and we all know that the skipper is going to play in that central midfield position. No point Amorim desperately keeping him and buying two no 10s and then not use the magnifico. It would make no sense even more so considering he's used Bruno as a no 8 more than as a no 10.
Three no 8s though, for one position?
Can we afford to have two CMs with Bruno and Baleba? The captain lacks positional discipline and so does the Brighton man and our midfield was already a problem. We CANNOT afford to have two players with this issue. Neither can dictate the play, control the tempo nor shield the defense as well as a CDM which is needed in a 3-4-3 formation.
Ideally, you want a holding midfielder AND no 8 rather than two no 8s which is what Bruno and Baleba would give you.
With that in mind, who would you sell out of the five?
We've finally gotten to the point of this post. Thank you for taking us on that long ride 😐.
Collyer is the easy option because he is young and doesn't seem to be in much favour with the manager. Perhaps United can do something with Brighton by sending the youngster back to the Seagulls with money to sign Baleba.
Casemiro looks set to see out his contract which ends next season. He has hardly generated interest as well and despite a shaky start to life under Amorim, the Brazilian won favour towards the end of last season playing a pivotal part in reaching the Europa League final. He is also on £350k-a-week which is not a wage that most clubs can afford making a potential exit more difficult. Casemiro is a CDM as well and like I said, we need one in this midfield. It wouldn't make sense to sell a no 6 for a no 8 considering that the only other holding midfielder we would have is Ugarte.
Moving on to the Uruguayan, he is our best CDM. He has his issues but he isn't the worst. I actually thought he had a decent first season at Old Trafford and I felt he was one of our better midfielders whenever he played. I think it was foolish of Amorim to leave him out of the final against Spurs. Ugarte was also signed just last season. It's very rare that a player is sold after one year.
Reports suggest that United are going to give Mainoo a new contract. Why would you do that if you're going to sell him? But in this player, he is the one who is struggling most. We don't actually know where his best position lies but as he is so talented, it would feel like a waste to not use him or sell him. For people wanting him and Baleba to be our midfield for years to come, I don't see how that happens if Mainoo can't get into the team.
Then there's Bruno, one of the most divisive players I've ever seen play for United.
His quality is undeniable and we do look better with him than without, but was he worth keeping knowing that there was a £100m offer on the table? That type of money would've not only given us the funds needed for someone like Baleba but also freed up a space in the team where the Cameroonian could slot right in.
As Bruno is likely to feature as part of that midfield pivot every game, where would Baleba play? Where does Mainoo, or Casemiro, or Ugarte?
Selling Bruno would've solved a lot of problems. I suppose we may as well move on from that because Amorim wanted to keep him but that is why it HAS to work with the skipper in midfield otherwise questions will rightfully be asked whether this was the right call or not.
So for me, if we were to sell someone, honestly, it would have to be Mainoo. I know, I know, how can we be selling him? and with a new contract in the offing. That would also mean another talented youngster going after Garnacho and two who were such bright stars just a year ago.
It's the only realistic option because Bruno ain't going anywhere, Casemiro wants to finish his contract and Ugarte was signed just last year. Collyer won't bring in much money and I'm not sure how much interest he has generated anyway.
I also find that our best duo would be Ugarte and Baleba. Ugarte has the legs to cover the ground and breakup the play that Casemiro doesn't and Baleba can carry the ball and press higher up. They compliment each other better than any other pairing in my opinion.
So, what do you think? If United were to sign Carlos Baleba, which midfielder should be let go off? Or should anyone be sold at all?
Carlos Baleba is 'open' to move to Man Utd | Creator: Mike Hewitt | Credit: Getty Images Copyright: 2025 Getty Images via Man Utd News