Tim Sherwood has warned Manchester United that Carlos Baleba is 'not a game-changing signing' and named the England midfielder he believes the club should be targeting instead.
United are closing in on the Brighton star after submitting an offer worth up to £65million, according to reports from Wednesday. The Red Devils had attempted to sign the 22-year-old last summer and agreed personal terms, but were priced out of a move. Brighton appear to have lowered their valuation after the Cameroon international's form dipped last season, with the suggestion that transfer talk had become a distraction.
Sherwood's verdict on Baleba
Speaking to Sky Sports News, the Premier League-winning captain said: 'Yeah, I'm a Baleba! I think he's very good. I'm a bit surprised they haven't done it earlier. Whether Brighton have been waiting to try and get the price up. If they're letting him go now he was obviously available at the beginning of the window, so just go and take him and bring him to Michael as quickly as possible and let him fit into the system and how he wants to play.'
However, Sherwood expressed surprise that United were not pursuing a different Premier League midfielder. 'I'm really surprised they haven't gone for Adam Wharton or any team hasn't gone for Adam Wharton. He would have been my choice. I like players who are a little bit more cultured,' he added.
Wharton alternative and Baleba warning
Wharton, 22, has played a key role in Crystal Palace's success over the past two seasons, winning player of the match in their Conference League final victory in May. Valued at around £100m, he is now said to be of interest to Manchester City as a potential replacement for Rodri. He was shockingly omitted from England's World Cup squad.
Sherwood warned that Baleba, who will miss the start of the season with an ankle injury, is 'not the finished article'. 'I'm not sure he's a game-changer signing, I wouldn't be that excited,' he said. 'I'm not falling off my chair if I'm a Man United fan about this signing. He's got a lot of developing to come, and the reason why his fee has gone down is because he was so poor last season. He's brought the fee down. But he's not a dud signing, that's for sure. And he's still got development in him but he's not finished. They've got a lot of young players that are not finished articles. Tielemans is and Kobbie Mainoo is still developing, so it's another option for Carrick.'
