Carrick has fixed his biggest problem with €75m Man Utd signing

Michael Carrick has fixed his biggest problem with €75m Man Utd signing Make us your Google favourite Manchester United are closing in on the signing of Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba , with a deal expected to be formally completed before the end of the summer transfer window. The Cameroon international was desperate to complete an Old Trafford switch last year, with personal terms agreed, but the deal collapsed due to Brighton's lofty asking price and he was forced to remain at the AMEX Stadium for an additional season. However, insider has confirmed that a deal is now close, with Man Utd officials in advanced talks over a big-money transfer, having lodged an official approach worth €75 million. insider has revealed that the move is expected to be formally completed shortly, despite the fact that a final fee hasn’t yet been agreed, with Baleba set to become Man Utd’s fifth signing of the summer window. The Red Devils are also set to pursue a new left-back before Deadline Day, as they look to sign a suitable back-up option to Luke Shaw, but Baleba’s imminent arrival will undoubtedly fix the biggest problem in Michael Carrick’s squad. Analysis: Why Carlos Baleba is the perfect signing for Man Utd At 22 years old, Baleba certainly isn’t the finished product and he will arrive at Man Utd following a hugely underwhelming 2025-26 campaign. The Cameroon star endured a notable dip in performance last term and this was a key contributing factor behind why he only played the entire 90 minutes in three Premier League matches. However, it’s also a crucial reason why Man Utd have been able to significantly lower Brighton’s asking price. While his form last season is a concern, Baleba remains one of the best young midfielders in the English top flight and it’s no surprise why Man Utd have been desperate to finally bring him to Old Trafford ahead of Carrick’s first full season in charge of the club. In Andrey Santos, Kobbie Mainoo and Youri Tielemans, Man Utd already have three excellent Premier League midfielders. But, they are all remarkably similar. Of course, there are subtle differences between the trio - Santos has the best defensive nous, Mainoo is far superior in tight spaces and Tielemans is a blend of both - but they are all pass-first midfielders who excel in possession but aren’t the most mobile. Given the physical nature of the current Premier League, that presents a huge issue. Furthermore, all three have typically been paired with a more physical and mobile partner during their Premier League careers to date. Santos was often partnered by Moises Caicedo at Chelsea last term, Mainoo relied upon Casemiro’s defensive work at Man Utd, while Tielemans was selected alongside either Boubacar Kamara or Amadou Onana at Aston Villa. So, securing the signing of a ground-eating midfielder capable of covering large distances when defending was absolutely essential for Man Utd this summer. Adam Wharton and Alex Scott, both of whom were linked with an Old Trafford switch, wouldn’t have fulfilled this requirement, but Baleba certainly does. The 22-year-old isn’t the perfect midfielder and there are certain traits that he must gain over the coming seasons, including his ability to dictate a game via his passing, but he is excellent at covering ground defensively, while he is immense at progressing the ball via carries through the middle of the pitch. Given the make-up of Man Utd’s current midfield roster, securing the signing of Baleba will go down as a huge coup for Carrick and it fixes the biggest issue in his squad: a lack of midfield balance. Man Utd now look well-stocked in most areas on the pitch and with an exciting forward line that now contains the returning Marcus Rashford, they should be able to build on a hugely impressive end to the 2025-26 campaign.