Manchester United are set to renew their push to land Carlos Baleba in 2026
Last season brought a lot of disappointment to Manchester United. The team finished 15th in the Premier League and lost the Europa League final to Tottenham. Being out of European competitions for 2025/26 also proved to be a big setback for us. Now the question arises that which players do United need to balance their team and which areas are most important to strengthen.
United made several big moves in the summer window. Names like Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo have been added to the squad, while young Diogo Leon was also signed. The entry of Benjamin Sesko immediately solved the striker problem, as Rasmus Hojlund had a very disappointing last season. However, despite this, questions remained in the midfield. Casemiro no longer looks the same as before; his pace and energy have decreased. For this reason, both Ruben Amorim and the club started looking for a new defensive midfielder.
The club had their eyes on Brighton’s Carlos Baleba. According to reports, Amorim himself has been a big fan of this player. Baleba’s age, work ethic and ability to impose himself in the midfield made him an ideal defensive midfielder for United, but the problem was Brighton’s attitude.
Manchester United are set to renew their push to land Carlos Baleba in 2026.
Baleba remains Amorim’s choice because he fits his tactics
The club refused to let Baleba go at any cost this summer. Manchester United had shown initial interest, but Brighton asked for such a big price that the club backed off. According to Fabrizio Romano, Brighton have closed the door to the 21-year-old’s transfer this summer. Now, United have included the player in their 2026 wish list. It is clear that this story is not over yet, but it will start again next year.
Why was it right to back down this time?
From our point of view, this time the club took the right decision in the end. The kind of price Brighton had set was not justified under any circumstances. United have already invested in Cunha, Mbeumo and Sesko this summer. In such a situation, spending more would have been impractical. Strengthening the midfield is important, but it is not necessary to pay every price for it. This is why stepping back was the most sensible move this time.
Apart from this, the possibility of the future is also open. By 2026, United can raise funds by selling some of their unwanted players. At that time, perhaps Brighton’s thinking will also change, and the price will come down. Baleba remains Amorim’s choice because he fits his tactics. The player’s passing ability, ability to play under pressure and physical strength can make him a long-term solution for United. As fans, it has to be said that sometimes signing the right player immediately is not the solution, and sometimes waiting is the best option. Baleba’s name will come up next year, and then perhaps this deal will prove to be perfect for United. Amorim can try out Kobbie Mainoo in rotation with Casemiro and Mnauel Ugarte for that position.