Carlos Baleba may be asked to play out of position at Manchester United if Michael Carrick fails to land his top transfer target. The Brighton midfielder is expected to complete a move to Old Trafford in the coming days, with the clubs close to agreeing a deal worth up to £65million.
United fans will have to wait for his debut, as Baleba is currently sidelined with an ankle ligament injury. The 22-year-old will compete for a spot in Carrick’s midfield against Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount, and fellow summer signings Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos.
Left-back search forces rethink
But Baleba may be deployed in a new role, with the club struggling to sign a left-back before the transfer window closes on September. According to The Athletic, after the arrivals of Tielemans and Santos, United’s focus shifted to recruiting cover for Luke Shaw, the only natural left-back in the first-team.
When the injury-prone Mount suffered another setback in pre-season, the recruitment team decided to look at players capable of operating both in midfield and at full-back. Targets included Arsenal teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly and Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga, but with both unattainable, they pivoted back to Baleba.
Baleba's versatility
Baleba has never played at left-back before but is left-footed and has previously filled in as a centre-back for Brighton. It is reported that the Cameroon international will be considered for the role if need be, a scenario that could arise with Carrick struggling to bring in a defender.
United’s top left-back targets are Lewis Hall and Joaquin Seys, but Newcastle United and Club Brugge are adamant they are going nowhere this summer. Barcelona’s Alejandro Balde is the latest name linked with Old Trafford, with United holding talks with the Spain international’s agent.
Additionally, Diogo Dalot, Noussair Mazraoui, Lisandro Martinez and Patrick Dorgu have all covered at left-back before, but none are considered naturals in that position. United kick off their season on Saturday with a trip to newly-promoted Hull City.
