Why deadline-busting £39m signing would eclipse Man Utd’s Baleba deal

It’s easy to jump to conclusions after just one defeat, yet Saturday’s loss to Hull City has highlighted the job at hand for Manchester United boss Michael Carrick.

It wasn’t exactly a good look that both Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans were hooked late on following difficult competitive debuts for the two new arrivals, with all that good pre-season work quickly going out the window.

Sunday’s clash with Ipswich Town provides the opportunity to put things right, at least, while the capture of Carlos Baleba could also ensure the window rounds off on a brighter note at Old Trafford.

The Cameroonian might have to bide his time to make his United bow due to injury, but let’s hope he proves worth the wait.

How Baleba compares to Europe’s best midfielders

Last year was the summer of the striker, yet it’s the turn of the midfielder this time around, with the Premier League’s elite all strengthening extensively in that department.

Arsenal have brought in Bruno Guimaraes. Tottenham Hotspur have snapped up Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes. Manchester City have acquired Elliot Anderson, with Ayyoub Bouaddi – and potentially Enzo Fernandez – soon set to follow.

Santos, Tielemans and Baleba will be measured against that pool of high-profile players, with the pressure on for the trio to hit the ground running after so many failed midfield signings at Old Trafford – looking at you, Manuel Ugarte and Donny van de Beek.

Now, in Baleba’s case, it wasn’t exactly a fruitful 2025/26 campaign, yet the drop-off in his performance has perhaps been overstated somewhat. This was no disaster.

Indeed, as per ScoutLab, the 22-year-old still ranked in the top 5% of midfielders in Europe’s big five leagues for defensive aerial duels won per 90, as well as in the top 19% for aerial duels won in general per 90.

Equally, Baleba also ranked in the top 14% for tackles and interceptions made, as well as in the top 13% for recoveries per 90, showcasing his ability to cut out danger in that number six berth.

That was further evidenced by the fact that he ranked in the top 13% for xThreat prevented, essentially outlining his ability to eliminate the threat posed by the opposition.

REUTERS/Paul Childs

The Seagulls star will then offer plenty to Carrick’s midfield ranks, but more is still needed before deadline day.

How Man Utd could still make a better signing than Baleba

As already noted, the midfield axis of Santos and Tielemans endured a rough ride against Hull, but it would be wrong to suggest that was the only issue for the Red Devils.

REUTERS/Scott Heppell

In attack, for instance, only Bryan Mbeumo really threatened the home goal, twice firing at the ‘keeper on his weaker right foot, with Patrick Dorgu producing a particularly poor first-half display prior to his withdrawal.

Defensively too, young Ayden Heaven couldn’t live with Oli McBurnie and co, while Luke Shaw went walkabout for the game’s second goal, having almost been caught in no man’s land again in the second half.

Considering the long-serving Englishman is the only senior option at left-back, it would be bordering on negligence not to sign an upgrade or an understudy before next week’s deadline.

Well, as reported by Football Insider, INEOS are ready to make a bid for Barcelona star, Alejandro Balde, provided they receive the ‘green light’ from the Catalan side.

The 22-year-old was left out of Barca’s opening game win against Elche, with there a feeling that he could be up for grabs before the window closes.

As per The Athletic, he is likely to be valued at around €45m (£39m), with it yet to be seen whether INEOS would be willing to cough up to meet that asking price.

On the face of it, considering the inflated nature of the transfer market, that doesn’t appear to be an outrageous valuation, not least considering that United spent roughly £30m on a far less experienced Dorgu 18 months ago.

Balde, still just 22, has already made 168 appearances for the Catalan side to date at first-team level, rising up through the club’s famed La Masia academy.

In that time, he’s registered three goals and 21 assists, proving a real outlet from full-back, while Baleba has chipped in with just six goals and assists in total from his 135 games for Brighton and Lille.

For comparison too, in 12 years and 326 games for United, Shaw has only scored five times and registered just 30 assists, a distinctly underwhelming return, it must be said.

REUTERS/Scott Heppell

It’s for that reason, alongside Shaw’s long-standing fitness woes, that Balde’s addition appears vital, more so than even Baleba, with United at least boasting midfield depth now with Santos and Tielemans on board to complement the likes of Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount and Bruno Fernandes.

Worringly too, Baleba appeared to fall away amid the mere prospect of moving to Old Trafford – how will he cope actually within such a pressurised environment?

The fact Balde is up for grabs is maybe a warning sign, but he has at least already proven himself at a giant of a club, used to dealing with the pressure of performing at the elite level.

Baleba is a relative unknown in that sense, with INEOS still taking a risk, even after securing a knockdown fee of around £70m.

As Saturday’s loss showcased too, Carrick just can’t rely on Shaw to be the main man at left-back once again this season – a fresh face, like Balde, could reinvigorate this stuttering defensive unit.