Manchester United must strongly consider signing Brighton & Hove Albion star Carlos Baleba.
The Red Devils are actively searching for a new holding midfielder to fill the void that will be left by Casemiro, who is set to depart the club at the end of the month.
Elliot Anderson is their prime target but he appears closer to a move to Manchester City.
INEOS would have loved to recruit Real Madrid powerhouse midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni.
They were widely tipped to table an offer but may have to change their plans now.
New Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho is determined to keep Tchouameni and views him as a cornerstone of his long-term project.
Tchouameni was recently involved in a dressing room altercation with Federico Valverde, which raised doubts over his future.
However, Mourinho sees the 26-year-old as the perfect midfield shield for a team built on defensive solidity.
With obstacles emerging in their pursuits of both Anderson and Tchouameni, INEOS should now accelerate efforts to secure the signature of Carlos Baleba.
The 22-year-old is a natural defensive midfielder who thrives on breaking up play and winning duels.
He offers dynamic presence in midfield and has the ability to cover enormous ground with relentless intensity.
The Cameroon international has added significant physical strength over the past year without sacrificing any of his mobility.
He is an incredibly gifted ball-carrier. Once he gathers momentum, very few players possess the speed or power required to stop him.
He could form a dream midfield partnership with Kobbie Mainoo.
Baleba could do all the dirty work in midfield, allowing Mainoo the freedom to play forward passes and also join the attack.
United reportedly value the midfielder at around £50 million, but Brighton are expected to demand a fee in the region of £80m-£100m.
Meeting anything close to Brighton’s asking price would represent a significant financial gamble.
Baleba remains a hugely exciting talent with enormous potential, but his current level may not yet justify a nine-figure investment.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com