The £42m signing Man Utd must make before the deadline

The last couple of weeks of the transfer window could prove to be vital for Manchester United in their efforts to be successful across a variety of competitions.

Michael Carrick will undoubtedly be tasked with making the Red Devils a force to be reckoned with in the Premier League once again – having now gone 13 years without a title.

The Champions League presents a fresh opportunity for the club to put themselves right amongst Europe’s elite once again and fight for a major trophy.

INEOS have already spent upwards of £85m in the transfer market, but the heavy spending looks set to continue before the window’s closure on September 1st.

Why United are taking a risk signing Baleba

In a somewhat unexpected transfer update earlier this week, it was confirmed that United had edged ever closer to securing a deal for Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba.

The Cameroonian international was the Red Devils’ top target last summer, but a deal couldn’t be agreed after a £100m price tag was placed on the 22-year-old.

However, it’s been reported that a deal could be completed for around the £65m mark this summer, but it’s safe to say such a move could be seen as a risk.

He’s a player who has constantly suffered from injuries in recent times, subsequently not featuring for a single minute of pre-season ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

Baleba is also set to be out of senior action until the start of October at the earliest, with the £65m addition said to be struggling with an ongoing ankle injury.

Even when fit last season, the Brighton star was unconvincing in various key areas – as seen by his tally of just 3.8 line-breaking passes, which ranked him in the bottom 15% of midfielders in the division.

He also only managed to win 50% of his ground duels last campaign – with such a figure lower than both of the club’s other midfield additions this summer.

How United can land a better signing than Baleba

Despite the pending agreement to sign Baleba before the summer window, INEOS appear to be lining up added additions to further strengthen Carrick’s ranks.

Alejandro Balde is seen as a possible option at left-back for the Red Devils before the end of the window, which could see Luke Shaw lose his starting role.

However, he’s not the only player who’s emerged as a late transfer target, with Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Edmond Tapsoba another being considered by the hierarchy.

TEAMtalk have provided the latest on the Red Devils’ pursuit of the 27-year-old, stating that Carrick’s men have reached out to the player’s representatives over the possibility of a transfer.

The report also states that the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United are also firmly in the race to secure the Burkina Faso international’s signature.

Any deal could well prove to be a bargain for the centre-back, as the Bundesliga side are said to be demanding just £42m to offload him before the end of the window.

Such a deal could prove to be a bargain for the Red Devils, with Tapsoba able to solve a problem position for United and become a better addition than £65m man, Baleba.

Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans’ arrival has already seen key midfield additions join the club, whilst the centre-back department is in need of added reinforcements.

Lisandro Martinez, Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt have all struggled with injuries in recent months and have left Carrick’s side massively short on options.

However, a move for Tapsoba could provide needed quality and depth in such a department, with his stats from the 2025/26 campaign showcasing his immense quality on and off the ball.

The Leverkusen star managed to complete 91% of his passes in Germany’s top-flight last term, subsequently ranking above 85% of other players in his position across Europe.

Such numbers could make him perfect for Carrick’s possession-based system, whilst also offering him key quality without the ball at his feet within the defensive third.

Tapsoba managed to make a phenomenal tally of 5.4 ball recoveries per 90 – also placing him above 95% of defenders within Europe’s top-five leagues last term.

Other figures, such as 2.5 aerial duels won per 90 and 1.2 tackles made, also showcase his talent without the ball – which could see him become Carrick’s number one defensive option.

£42m for a player of his calibre could prove to be an excellent piece of business for the Red Devils – especially if he can remain fit and improve the club’s defensive record.

Baleba may be the talk of the town at present, but a deal for Tapsoba would be a sensational one and one which could hand the club the defensive quality they have craved in recent times.