Wayne Rooney's hopes of seeing a physical presence in the heart of Manchester United's midfield for the new season appear to have burned out bright, with the Reds lodging a £65million bid for a 5ft10' Carlos Baleba.
United have enjoyed a fruitful window this summer, having acquired a number of upgrades to their engine room. The club secured Youri Tielemans in a £35m deal with Aston Villa, before welcoming Andrey Santos from Chelsea for £50m. However, United are still lacking a true enforcer in the heart of the pitch, following Casemiro's exit as a free agent.
Rooney's plea for height
Reds legend, Rooney, has already made it crystal clear that he believes that his former club require an air of height in the centre of the park, pointing out during a conversation with Mark Goldbridge that their current midfielders aren't exactly the biggest bunch.
He said: "I think if you look at Tielemans, you look at [Kobbie] Mainoo, you look at Santos, they're all small lads. There's not much pace among the three of them, so [United should go for] probably [Amadou] Onana for Villa - that profile. Maybe not him, but that profile of player I think is what Man United need in the middle."
When probed about the prospect of bringing in Real Madrid's Aurelien Tchouameni, who United have been linked with this summer, Rooney agreed that the 26-year-old would fit the bill perfectly. He added: "Yeah, I think that profile of player would suit United massively."
Current midfield build
At present, Mainoo is the tallest player in the United midfield at 6ft flat, while Santos stands at around 5ft11' and Tielemans at just 5ft9'. However, it appears as though that's the build that the Old Trafford elite have put faith in this summer, as they have reignited their interest in Brighton and Hove Albion's Baleba.
The Reds were linked with a sensational swoop for the 22-year-old last summer, only to be deterred by a £100m price tag on the Seagulls' part. While a minor ankle ligament injury was assumed to have brought their interest to a standstill this summer, it has now emerged that United are once again pursuing the Cameroonian.
Bid details and timeline
The MEN understands that United have tabled a package deal which amounts to £65m in total, although it remains to be seen whether Brighton's valuation of their talent remains the same following a largely disappointing season.
Baleba failed to register a single Premier League goal or assist under Fabian Hurzeler in 2025/26, despite featuring 31 times in total. However, it's clear that United still see a world class player within the youngster, as shown by their latest proposal.
United will have limited time to get a deal over the line, considering the summer transfer window slams shut on September 1, with business put on hold until the January. If the recent winter window is anything to go off, meanwhile, United are once again unlikely to spend big for reinforcement half-way through the season.
