Man Utd submit offer to sign £43m “machine” who’s better than Baleba

The resurgence of a certain Casemiro at Manchester United this season has been remarkable.

It was not long ago that Jamie Carragher spoke out on Sky Sports, telling him to leave the football before the football leaves you.

Well Jamie, you owe the Brazilian an apology. The football certainly hasn’t left Casemiro, it’s been breathed back into him with abundance.

This season has been the best goalscoring campaign of the midfielder’s career, finding the net on nine occasions. Before 2025/26, he had never scored more than seven in one season.

On that evidence, his decision to leave Old Trafford at the end of the season will leave a huge void to fill. Fortunately, the hierarchy have built a rather long list of possible replacements.

Man Utd submit first bid to replace Casemiro

If Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Co had their way, then they would welcome Elliot Anderson to Manchester United with open arms.

Instead, the likelihood is that they will have to watch him head to rivals Manchester City. Pep Guardiola’s men are reportedly in pole position to sign the Nottingham Forest star but they may well have to pay £100m.

United’s list of alternatives includes Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali and Brighton’s Carlos Baleba. They could also move for Stuttgart’s Angelo Stiller.

Baleba is the player they have completed the most work on. Last summer, they held regular conversations with the player’s camp, leading to personal terms being agreed. Those terms are still in place heading into the upcoming transfer window.

Yet, Jason Wilcox and Co have also been working on a deal for Atalanta star Ederson. Reports in recent weeks have suggested that United are interested in signing the player, but fresh claims note that they have stepped up their interest by beginning formal talks with the midfielder’s representatives.

That comes courtesy of a discussion on Fabrizio Romano’s Italian YouTube channel. Speaking to another reporter, it was revealed that United have made their first offer to the player in a bid to tempt him to England.

It was said: “In recent weeks, some English clubs have forcefully approached Ederson’s entourage, offering much more than what Atletico Madrid are offering in terms of salary. I tell you that United today are the team that have informed themselves the most and are offering around €4.5m per season (£75k-per-week).”

Atletico have been in pole position to sign the player, having agreed personal terms, but have been unwilling to meet Atalanta’s asking price of around £43m.

Why Ederson would be better than Carlos Baleba for Man United

Baleba must be cursing his luck that his big move did not come last summer. Indeed, during 2024/25, he proved to be one of the finest young defensive midfielders in the division.

Last term, he ranked among the finest 15% of midfielders in the Premier League for dribbles per 90 with 1.11, showcasing a progressive ability that would have added a great deal to the United side.

Furthermore, he sat among the best 17% of midfielders for duels won with 6.71 per 90. Yet, as we sit here nearly at the conclusion of the 2025/26 season, Baleba’s stock has fallen. His numbers have decreased significantly in some key categories.

In 2024/25, the Cameroon international looked like an elite midfielder in the making. He was winning a serious amount of duels and also getting forward, involved in build-up play and having regular shots himself.

Fast forward to the present day, however, and it’s clear to see why Ederson would be a big upgrade on the current version of Baleba.

He’s registering far more shots, creating a higher number of chances and he’s winning more duels and tackles. Crucially, the Brazilian is also making fewer fouls every time he participates in a duel. There’s a reason he’s been described as “the strongest defensive midfielder in the world” by Italian content creator Damiano Coccia.

At the age of 22, there is a sense that Baleba is still a rather raw prospect. Yes, he’s proved he can perform in the Premier League before but his career trajectory is on a downward curve.

In comparison, Ederson is 26. He’s a seasoned professional and represents something of a plug-and-play option. You know what you’re getting. He’s a true “machine” in the words of reporter Carlo Garganese.