Manchester United boss Michael Carrick (Picture: Getty)
Manchester United have made an approach to sign Barcelona left-back Alejandro Balde after closing in on a £65m deal for Carlos Baleba.
United looked set to go into the new Premier League season with only two new midfielders after the signings of Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa and Andrey Santos from Chelsea.
But Michael Carrick was keen to welcome a third midfielder to Old Trafford this summer after losing Casemiro at the end of last season.
Manchester United were linked with Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali, who both joined Tottenham, and Elliot Anderson, who completed a £116m move to local rivals Manchester City.
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Carrick was therefore preparing to go into the 2026-27 campaign with only his current options at his disposal until United made a breakthrough in talks with Brighton for Baleba.
It was reported on Wednesday that Manchester United were closing in on a deal for the Cameroon international worth around £65m.
Baleba will become Carrick’s third major signing of the summer but Old Trafford bosses are not finished in the transfer market just yet.
Barcelona and Spain left-back Alejandro Balde (Picture: Getty)
A new left-back has been on Carrick’s wishlist for months to provide cover and competition for Luke Shaw ahead of Manchester United’s return to the Champions League.
The Red Devils hoped to welcome Lewis Hall to the Theatre of Dreams but Newcastle United have ruled out selling another first-team player before the transfer deadline.
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Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano says Manchester United have made an approach for Barcelona left-back Balde and held talks with his agent Jorge Mendes.
BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 16: Carlos Baleba of Brighton & Hove Albion during the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Fulham at Amex Stadium on August 16, 2025 in Brighton, England. (Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images)
BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 16: Carlos Baleba of Brighton & Hove Albion during the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Fulham at Amex Stadium on August 16, 2025 in Brighton, England. (Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images)
Balde has made 168 appearances for Barca since graduating from the club’s academy, helping his boyhood side win three La Liga titles.
The 22-year-old has also earned seven caps for Spain but none since 2023 and was left out of their World Cup-winning squad this summer.
In the same year, Balde signed a new contract with Barcelona until the summer of 2028 which included an unattainable buyout clause of €1 billion.
Newcastle United v West Ham United - Premier League
A deal for Lewis Hall looks unlikely (Picture: Getty)
While Manchester United have expressed interest in the full back, Romano says Balde has a ‘great relationship’ with Barcelona and is keen to extend his spell at the Spanish champions.
‘Manchester United are looking to sign a left-back, there is a possibility they will sign a left-back in the final few days of the summer window, that’s what I expect,’ Romano said on his YouTube channel.
‘They wanted Lewis Hall but that’s not possible because Newcastle don’t want to sell the player.
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‘Something I can reveal is Manchester United made a call to Jorge Mendes, the agent of Alejandro Balde, to understand his situation at Barcelona.
‘Barcelona and Balde share a great relationship, Balde is a Barca boy and in principle doesn’t want to leave. Balde will only go if Barcelona tell him to, in principle he wants to stay.
‘But we need to see what will happen because a conversation took place between Jorge Mendes and Man United to understand the situation around Balde.’
Carrick’s Manchester United face newly-promoted Hull City in their Premier League opener on Saturday.
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Mandatory Credit: Photo by Grzegorz Wajda/SOPA Images/Shutterstock (17095412ax) Coach Michael Carrick of Manchester United seen during Super Match 2026 football match between Manchester United and AC Milan at Tarczynski Arena (Wroclaw). FInal Score; Manchester United 2:4 AC Milan. Super Match 2026 football match between Manchester United and AC Milan Manchester United vs AC milan Wroclaw, Poland - 15 Aug 2026
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Grzegorz Wajda/SOPA Images/Shutterstock (17095412ax) Coach Michael Carrick of Manchester United seen during Super Match 2026 football match between Manchester United and AC Milan at Tarczynski Arena (Wroclaw). FInal Score; Manchester United 2:4 AC Milan. Super Match 2026 football match between Manchester United and AC Milan Manchester United vs AC milan Wroclaw, Poland - 15 Aug 2026