Manchester United are closing in on the signing of Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba in a deal worth around £65million. The club have tabled a £60million bid, plus £5m in add-ons, for the 22-year-old. Baleba has been on the Red Devils' radar for some time, with the club previously eager to capture him last summer before the Seagulls' £100m asking price temporarily blocked their pursuit. Now, it seems United are zeroing in on the player, who commands a significantly lower fee than 12 months ago, following a decline in performance levels and a recent injury setback.
Midfield rebuild takes shape
Baleba would still become Michael Carrick's most expensive signing this summer after the club's capture of two other midfielders. United's midfield rebuild saw Andrey Santos join in a £50m deal last month, while Youri Tielemans was snapped up for £35m. These additions mirror the way the club focused on recruiting three top-quality attackers in Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo in the same window last summer.
But there remain several crucial areas that Carrick must bolster before the transfer window closes on September 1. Perhaps the most urgent of all is the requirement to bring in a left-back to rotate with Luke Shaw and eventually replace the experienced defender. Shaw, 31, cannot be relied upon to feature in every Premier League fixture this campaign as he did last season, let alone participate in FA Cup, Carabao Cup and Champions League ties as well. Young talent Harry Amass could reportedly depart in the coming days, either on loan or in a permanent deal. United don't think he's ready to play regularly for them.
Lewis Hall identified as top target
Following the signing of Baleba, director of football Jason Wilcox must now shift his focus towards securing a deal for Newcastle United's Lewis Hall. The 21-year-old had been identified as the primary defensive target heading into the summer transfer window. Hall is regarded as one of the top left-backs in Europe and, given his youth, would strengthen Carrick's defence for years to come. Reports indicate the young full-back could command a fee of anywhere between £60m and £70m, owing to his contract running until June 2029.
The i Paper has claimed Newcastle's hierarchy insist Hall is completely off the market and will not entertain any approaches, as he is considered an 'untouchable' member of the squad. However, a club of United's stature should pay little heed to such assertions. Newcastle made identical claims regarding Alexander Isak last summer and Bruno Guimaraes earlier this month, yet both ultimately departed for Liverpool and Arsenal, respectively. Should United table a substantial bid and the player himself pushes for a transfer, signing Hall could well become a realistic prospect. The prospect of Champions League football would surely prove an irresistible lure, particularly with the Magpies failing to qualify for Europe and the departures of Eddie Howe, Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon and Guimaraes painting a rather bleak picture at St James' Park.
Alternative options considered
Should their primary target Hall prove unattainable due to an excessive asking price, United have alternative options to consider. Club Brugge hold a similar position regarding Joaquin Seys, though a bid surpassing his £30m valuation may prove too attractive to resist. Reports emerging from Spain this week also suggest that United have earmarked Racing Santander's Jorge Salinas, 19, as United's 'plan B' should their pursuit of Hall ultimately prove fruitless. The Red Devils hierarchy are reportedly 'very serious' about Salinas after scouts watched the teenager's standout displays at this year's Under-19 European Championship. He has a €16m (£13.7m) release clause at Racing Santander and is also being keenly tracked by La Liga champions Barcelona.
Regardless of whom United consider the most suitable option, securing a left-back is absolutely vital before the window shuts. As things stand, a single injury to Shaw could throw their season into disarray and derail Carrick's entire project.
