15th in the Premier League table. Losing Europa League finalists. Manchester United were at their lowest ebb as a dismal and turbulent 2024/25 campaign came to a close.
For all the turmoil, all the chaos, Old Trafford remains an attractive destination, however. The pulling power exists even for a club enduring a 13-year run without a league title.
Despite rampant competition, Matheus Cunha's swift £62.5m capture has since been followed by statement moves for Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko, with the latter pair joining for £65m and £74m, respectively.
Those arrivals have come amid a golden period in the footballing calendar. A time when optimism for the new season is at its peak. Ruben Amorim is doing - and saying - all the right things.
We've seen this cycle before in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, however, with the current swell of goodwill likely to evaporate if things go awry on the opening weekend against Arsenal.
Man-Utd-striker-record-timeless
If the former Sporting CP boss is to truly kick on and enjoy a successful season in charge, the Red Devils need to dip into the market once again...
Man Utd's search for a midfielder
In the week that former United man Scott McTominay earned a Ballon d'Or nod, Amorim's search for a new midfielder appeared to finally ramp up, with an upgrade seemingly needed on McTominay's 2024 replacement, Manuel Ugarte.
Reports this summer have indicated that the Old Trafford side are keen to add an 'athletic' number eight to their ranks before the window is out, with a first-choice partner for Bruno Fernandes still yet to be found.
That search has led United to Brighton and Hove Albion's door, with The Athletic's David Ornstein reporting this week that contact has been made regarding a potential move for Carlos Baleba.
That has since been followed by reports from TEAMtalk, which outline that United believe the 21-year-old is keen to make the move to Manchester this summer, even if a deal is described as 'complex'.
The piece notes that the Cameroonian's £100m valuation is a notable sticking point, with the Seagulls in no mood to sell on the cheap, although there is a sense at Old Trafford that it would not be impossible to strike a deal.
FFC Manchester United Baleba
Bringing in such a highly-rated talent would mark yet another smart addition by Jason Wilcox and co, although what would it mean for those already at the club?
How Baleba's arrival would impact Man Utd's midfield
At 33, Casemiro - who has just a year left on his contract - is likely to be limited to bit-part status, while the aforementioned Ugarte is still struggling to find his feet, having lost the ball in the build-up to Illiman Ndiaye's equaliser during an errant display against Everton last week.
With the Uruguayan yet to convince that he can be Fernandes' partner for the long-term, that is where Baleba comes into play, with the elegant left-footer already "one of the best midfielders in the league", according to analyst Ben Mattinson.
Also described as an "exceptional" talent by Mattinson, the former Lille man has smoothly adjusted to life in English football over the last two seasons, with a certain Pep Guardiola believed to be a huge admirer.
FFC in-text wider Baleba
Bringing in such an asset would seemingly 'solve' United's problems in the centre of the park, albeit while throwing a spanner in the works for Amorim's own rising star, in the form of Kobbie Mainoo.
Having largely operated in one of the two number ten berths following Amorim's arrival last season, Mainoo - who memorably scored late on in the 5-4 thriller against Lyon - has since operated as part of the midfield two in pre-season, with the Portuguese coach seeking to find a settled role in the side for the Englishman.
Mainoo-Manchester-United
While his stock has declined following an injury-hit 2024/25, it would be foolish to ignore the brilliance of Mainoo's debut campaign, a season that ended with an FA Cup final winner and a starring role in England's surge to the Euro 2024 final.
For a coach not to be able to fit such a talent into the side would reflect poorly on Amorim, with the 40-year-old having already cast out another Wembley hero, Alejandro Garnacho, for stylistic - and disciplinary - reasons.
There has been flickers of life from Mainoo during pre-season - having notably pounced to tee up Fernandes in the victory over West Ham United - although hopes of nailing down a starting berth would be rocked amid Baleba's addition.
Indeed, the Brighton man appears to be the athletic, all-action option that United and Amorim are crying out for, having ranked in the top 9% of Premier League midfielders in 2024/25 for interceptions made per 90, as well as in the top 20% for successful take-ons per 90.
Mainoo vs Baleba - 24/25 PL stats
Stat (per 90)
Non-penalty goals
Assists
Shot-creating actions
Pass completion
Progressive passes
Progressive carries
Successful take-ons
Tackles
Interceptions
Aerial duels won
Stats via FBref
Mainoo, by contrast, ranked in the top 16% for that latter metric, albeit while only ranking in the top 39% for interceptions, with his work out of possession perhaps letting him down.
It is for Baleba's all-round talents that he would surely slot straight into Amorim's set-up, ensuring it could be another rocky season for Mainoo should that deal progress.