How Man Utd can officially eclipse their Carlos Baleba transfer

You have to hand it to INEOS, they have kept things hush-hush this summer at Manchester United.

After prior moves for Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans had come as a bolt from the blue, the Red Devils also now appear to be closing in on a late deal for Carlos Baleba, despite there have been little noise surrounding the Brighton and Hove Albion man in recent weeks.

By all accounts, it had been Newcastle United lining up a move for the Cameroonian, although despite an ongoing ankle issue, it is those at Old Trafford who have now pounced.

A year on from backing away from a £100m+ deal, Jason Wilcox and co appear to have got their man. Will that patience prove a virtue?

The pros and cons of Man Utd signing Baleba

Let’s get the negatives out of the way. First and foremost, the expectation is that the 22-year-old might not be fit until the end of September, ensuring it could be a delayed start to his United career.

Equally too, Baleba didn’t exactly enjoy a stellar 2025/26 campaign, repeatedly hooked at half-time by Seagulls boss Fabian Hurzeler, having seemingly been knocked back by his failed move to Manchester.

It’s also hard not to see the parallels with Jadon Sancho, United having secured what looked like a knock-down price for the Englishman in 2021, a year on from failing to get their man. As it proved, Sancho’s start was delayed by an ear infection, as he never truly got going in a red jersey.

Of course, the difference is that Baleba has already shown what he can do in the Premier League, enjoying a real breakout 2024/25 campaign as he scored and assisted four goals, averaged one successful dribble per game and averaged a stellar 3.7 tackles and interceptions per game.

He’s a powerhouse of a midfielder at his best, so adept at eating up ground in order to make life far easier for those around him. Youri Tielemans and Kobbie Mainoo take note.

As bold as it may be to claim too, perhaps there’s a world in which Baleba also slots in at left-back on occasion, the left-footer certainly an asset when driving forward from deep, carrying the ball so effectively.

It’s an exciting, statement move whatever way you cut it, even if there is the odd concern or two, with there hopefully set to be more where that came from before the window slams shut.

How Man Utd can eclipse the Baleba deal before the deadline

The knives were out among supporters prior to David Ornstein’s bombshell news regarding Baleba, with there having been a feeling that INEOS were merely allowing this summer to drift, rather than really attacking the market to back Michael Carrick.

Getting the Brighton starlet in the door is certainly a start, but it would be foolish to suggest that United should wrap up their business there. Plenty more is needed.

An upgrade on or rival to Luke Shaw is required at left-back, while it could be argued that the pre-season absence of Benjamin Sesko has only heightened the need for a new striker, particularly with Joshua Zirkzee likely to depart.

Well, as Football FanCast exclusively reported this week, United have already held talks with the camp of Victor Osimhen, with the Nigerian said to be open to making the move to Old Trafford.

The question remains as to whether the Red Devils can agree a fee with Galatasaray – amid claims they’ve already knocked back a £111m bid from Al Hilal – but the 27-year-old’s desire to join is certainly a strong negotiating tool.

Indeed, bringing a striker of Osimhen’s pedigree into the building would feel like a real marker for this INEOS regime, more so than even gambling on Baleba.

So far, the new United hierarchy have largely chased youth over proven elite talent, while perhaps somewhat playing itself by plucking ready-made options from the Premier League, such as Tielemans, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.

REUTERS/Murad Sezer

Where”s the wow factor? Where’s the real game-changer who could drag Carrick’s men to the title?

Going for the big names hasn’t worked in the past, but far too many of United’s post-Sir Alex Ferguson era were past their best, be it Radamel Falcao, Bastian Schweinsteiger or Edinson Cavani.

Osimhen, by contrast, is at the real peak of his powers, already up to 61 goals in just his first 75 games in Turkey, kick-starting the new season with a brace in Galatasaray’s Super Lig opener.

He’s already proven he can be the difference in a title race too, ending Napoli’s lengthy Serie A drought in 2022/23 after scoring 26 league goals that year.

At that stage, he arguably looked like the “best striker in the world“, in the view of agent Andrea D’Amico, and while he’s not quite at that level right now, he’s certainly among the cream of the crop when it comes to the game’s most prolific number nines.

Let’s face it, in Baleba’s case, United are taking a risk on potential, with the midfielder only really enjoying one standout, consistent season in his career to date – 2024/25 – including his time back at former club Lille.

That is a gamble, unquestionably, yet Osimhen looks like a sure thing, a man who’s already delivered the goods across his time in Belgium, France, Turkey and Italy.

175 goals in 298 club career games says it all, in truth, and for all Sesko’s promise, this could be the proven striker that United have long been crying out for.

REUTERS/Umit Bektas

Baleba, based on what he’s shown at the Amex, certainly raises the floor in terms of Man United’s midfield depth and quality. For Osimhen, he can smash the ceiling in comparison to Carrick’s current attacking options.