Has this season been the perfect, much-needed reset for Manchester United? Or will a top-five spot ultimately mean little ahead of another regression next term?
That is all to be decided, although what is clear is that INEOS are heading toward a pivotal summer, both in terms of naming the next permanent manager and with regard to reinforcing an improving, yet depleted squad at Old Trafford.
As the defeat to Leeds United showcased, take out just a handful of key cogs and this machine simply stops working, the Red Devils enduring a stark regression when the unfortunate Manuel Ugarte takes to the field.
|
Ugarte – 25/26 PL starts |
|
|---|---|
|
Opponent |
Result |
|
Leeds (H) |
1-2 (L) |
|
Burnley (A) |
2-2 (D) |
|
Leeds (A) |
1-1 (D) |
|
Wolves (H) |
1-1 (D) |
|
Newcastle (H) |
1-0 (W)) |
|
Villa (A) |
2-1 (L) |
|
Brentford (A) |
3-1 (L) |
|
Man City (A) |
3-0 (L) |
One win from the Uruguayan’s last ten starts in all competitions simply isn’t up to par, with a new, elite midfielder set to be a necessity, not least with Casemiro also on his way this summer.
Man Utd already agreed personal terms with £50m midfielder
Much of 2026 has been dominated by talk of Elliot Anderson or Sandro Tonali ending up in Manchester, although this week, it has been reported that Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni is also on INEOS’ summer shortlist.
Selected to be Casemiro’s replacement at the Bernabeu in 2022, the Frenchman could also succeed the ex-Madrid man at Old Trafford, despite having been a regular fixture for Los Blancos again this season.
As noted by The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell, the 26-year-old has been ‘discussed’ at United in recruitment meetings, although it remains to be seen whether the LaLiga side will cash in, amid the prospect that Tchouameni could sign a new deal instead.
As Whitwell notes, the former Monaco man is merely one of many on the shortlist, with Brighton and Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba also again under consideration, having been keen on the move last summer.
Indeed, Whitwell revealed that personal terms had been ‘broadly agreed’ with the Cameroonian, although Tony Bloom’s £100m plus asking price proved prohibitive.
United are now hoping that a fee of closer to £50m could do the job, albeit with the 22-year-old said to be in the ‘lower category’ of midfield targets.
Why Baleba could be a perfect alternative to Tchouameni
With Kobbie Mainoo – who put in his “best” performance under Michael Carrick last time out – now flourishing again, the priority is set to be the addition of a new number six to support him, rather than a number eight to succeed him.
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That would make a figure like Tchouameni the perfect pick, with the World Cup finalist previously hailed as “one of the best defensive midfielders on the planet“.
Landing such an elite, experienced talent wouldn’t come easy, and no doubt wouldn’t come cheap, with United previously forking out £70m on an ageing Casemiro from Madrid only four years ago.
With that in mind, landing a similarly dominant and high-potential talent like Baleba for a potentially reduced figure of £50m would represent the perfect alternative, even if the Seagulls star has endured a mixed campaign on the south coast.
Potentially impacted by the links to United, the former Lille starlet looked way off his best in the early weeks of the season, having been substituted off at half-time in three of the first seven league games.
Since returning from AFCON duty, Baleba still hasn’t been able to nail down a starting role week-in, week out, ensuring United would be gambling on his prior work in 2024/25.
That campaign was a real breakout one for him, however, starting 31 games, while notably averaging 3.7 tackles and interceptions per game, alongside 5.8 ball recoveries per game.
For comparison, in LaLiga this season, Tchouameni has enjoyed a similar record of 3.3 tackles and interceptions, alongside 4.4 recoveries from his 27 starts.
Neither man is an elite creator or goalscorer, but they are capable of the spectacular, particularly a stellar effort from range.
They also provide a real composed pillar in front of the back four, with Baleba boasting a pass accuracy rate of 88% last season, just below the Frenchman’s average of 91% in 2025/26.
Both schooled in Ligue 1 at Lille and Monaco, respectively, they have gone on to bigger and brighter things since then, with Baleba perhaps ready for that next step in his career at 22 – the same age Tchouameni was when he moved to Madrid.
Whether or not the frugal Bloom will sanction a ‘cut-price’ deal for Baleba remains to be seen, but considering personal terms are likely to be no issue, United already have one foot in the door.
Man Utd officials make in-person checks to sign the new Mainoo for £39m
Manchester United are now stepping up their chase to sign a midfield reinforcement, who could be their next Kobbie Mainoo.
