Man United eye £80m Baleba to anchor Tielemans–Santos rebuild
Manchester United’s midfield makeover is well underway. Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans are in, the engine room looks livelier, and there’s room for one more recruit to complete Michael Carrick’s grand plan. With Manuel Ugarte ruled out for months after that World Cup knee injury and Casemiro already gone, United are sizing up a specialist sitter to balance the blend. A busy window has also seen Karl Darlow arrive on a free and plans for two attacking additions before the 1 September deadline — but make no mistake, the priority right now is the pivot.
Why United still need a bona fide No 6
Tielemans is a cultured metronome with a goal in him; Santos brings legs, energy and progression. What United lack is the glue — a destroyer who hoovers up danger, wins the second balls and lets the artists paint. Carrick, a master of balance in his playing days, will know better than anyone that the right holding midfielder turns a promising pair into a proper trio.
Baleba back on the radar — price, profile, and the play
Carlos Baleba is the name that won’t go away. As reported, United explored a deal 12 months ago and are understood to have personal terms effectively in place from that attempt. Brighton’s sticker price was once north of £100m, but fresh chatter suggests a ceiling closer to £80m now after a more subdued campaign on the south coast. Even so, you’re paying for upside: a 22-year-old with power, recovery pace and a taste for the ugly work.
He’s not one for stepovers; he’s the lad who stops counters, shuffles across to snuff out danger, and hands the ball to the grown‑ups. After an outstanding 2024–25 season at the Amex, last term didn’t sparkle, but the raw materials remain exactly what United’s midfield mix is crying out for.
Tielemans would love a foil like this
Look at Tielemans at Villa Park: he looked a different animal when protected by Boubacar Kamara and Douglas Luiz, free to arrive late and dictate without constantly peeking over his shoulder. Give him a Baleba-type safety net and you unlock the Belgian’s best — tempo, range, and those clever little runs that disorganise back fours. Santos, for his part, can shuttle and surge either side of that platform.
Other avenues — and why Baleba still makes sense
United’s initial shortlist has been a moving target. Elliot Anderson slipped away to Manchester City, while Aurelien Tchouameni appears destined to stay at Real Madrid. There’s admiration for Bournemouth’s Alex Scott, and Spurs muscled in to snatch Mateus Fernandes. Reports also link United with France internationals Eduardo Camavinga and Manu Koné, though prising either loose would be a diplomatic exercise. Compared to those sagas, Baleba looks the most attainable — a premium, yes, but a pragmatic one given the need.
What happens next
United want their third midfielder boxed off well before the deadline, mindful of a Champions League schedule that won’t wait for anyone. If Brighton’s stance softens towards that £80m mark, expect Old Trafford to move quickly — and expect Tielemans to have a spring in his step.
If you’re tracking where the market thinks this is heading, the best betting sites will keep shifting the odds. A deal for Baleba wouldn’t just pad the squad — it would redefine United’s midfield balance, giving Carrick a proper anchor to knit the whole lot together.
Bottom line: United have done two smart bits of business; the third one — the nasty, no-frills No 6 — could be the signing that makes the rest of it sing.
