United are in the market for a new midfielder in the summer transfer window
Sean McCormick is a content editor across our North East and Yorkshire football clubs. He was previously a Newcastle United reporter, a trends writer covering both the Magpies and Sunderland AFC, as well as a football content editor at the Manchester Evening News. He also writes about darts and boxing. He joined us in 2016.
Carlos Baleba of Brighton and Hove Albion on the ball during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers FC and Brighton & Hove Albion FC at Molineux on May 10, 2025 in Wolverhampton, England
Carlos Baleba has been linked with a move to Old Trafford(Image: 2025 Allstar)
Manchester United's positive summer transfer window reached a new high on Saturday when the signing of Benjamin Sesko was confirmed.
The 22-year-old will be tasked with leading United's forward line after joining from RB Leipzig in a deal worth £73.7million.
The Slovenia international, alongside the arrivals of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, will hopefully ease United's goalscoring woes - with only four teams scoring less in the Premier League than Ruben Amorim's side last season.
Sesko was paraded in front of the Old Trafford crowd ahead of their 1-1 draw with Fiorentina and he is expected to be involved in the squad when United take on Arsenal in the opening game of their Premier League season on Sunday.
The attention now, though, turns towards who is next through the door at Carrington.
The expectation is that any new signing will be in the midfield and United have been heavily linked with a move for Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba.
The 21-year-old is an international teammate of United stars Mbeumo and Andre Onana and has impressed at Premier League level for the Seagulls across the last couple of seasons.
But Brighton are known to be tough negotiators and will not sell unless the price is deemed right for them, even if they have been known to sell some of their top talents to bigger clubs in England.
Albion have sold the likes of Joao Pedro, Ben White, Moises Caicedo, Alexis Mac Allister and Marc Cucurella for huge fees in recent seasons and Baleba could be the next name on that list.
But given United have already spent big on the four signings they have made this summer, they may well look at cheaper alternatives.
However, one of those options can be scratched off that list. Valencia midfielder Javi Guerra had been linked with a move to United but he has ended speculation over his future by signing a new deal with the Spanish side.
Javi Guerra has been linked with Manchester United
Javi Guerra has been linked with Manchester United
The Spain under-21 international has penned a contract until 2029 at the Mestalla and in a statement, Valencia said it underlined their 'firm commitment to his development, as well as the player's desire to continue growing alongside the club'.
However, the 22-year-old's new deal is said to include a release clause of around £87million and while he won't be moving to Old Trafford this summer, United will surely continue to monitor his progress in Spain.