19 Aug 2026 10:52:51
Carlos Beleba fee agreed. 60 million.
I think that's a cracking buy.
Only 22 years old and he has been desperate to come to Man U since last season.
If we managed to get Lewis Hall from Newcastle I would say it's been a cracking transfer window for us.
19 Aug 2026 11:21:33
Where are you seeing that a deal has been agreed. Most reports suggest that they turned down a £60m +£5m bid, but that talks are ongoing.
19 Aug 2026 12:26:46
Redseven - wher edoes it say that the 60m plus 5m has been turned down?
19 Aug 2026 12:57:58
My first choice.
Think he will be an excellent signing and exactly what we need.
19 Aug 2026 14:45:02
Ornstein, who broke the story, said that the bid was below their valuation, and that talks were continuing.
By all accounts, it sounds like all of the parties involved want to make a deal happen, but from what I can see, no fee has been agreed yet.
Hopefully we can get this one wrapped up quickly. The sooner we can get him in and around the squad, the better.
19 Aug 2026 14:50:35
It doesn't matter, redseven. First bid usually is rejected, it's part of the process.
19 Aug 2026 18:19:50
It's good news. Seems a much better price and worth waiting for. Well done to those on the recruitment team.
19 Aug 2026 18:22:07
Carlos Baleba Close – Is a Left-Back Now All Manchester United Need?
Manchester United appear to be on the verge of completing what could be one of the most exciting deals of their summer, with Carlos Baleba close to joining from Brighton.
Sky Sports reports that United are close to a full agreement, with a five-year contract already prepared and the 22-year-old expected to travel to Manchester ahead of a medical once the final details between the clubs are concluded. The overall deal is expected to be worth in excess of £60m.
If United get this completed around that sort of figure, I think it represents excellent business.
Baleba is only 22, already has extensive Premier League experience and gives Michael Carrick something his midfield has been crying out for: power, athleticism, recovery speed and the ability to carry the ball through pressure.
Perhaps most encouragingly, this isn't a name United have suddenly turned to late in the window. Sky Sports says Baleba has remained one of the club's leading targets, with United having enquired about him as far back as the January window.
He would join Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans, completely transforming the midfield options available to Carrick. Tielemans arrived for £35m and Santos for around £50m earlier this summer.
Suddenly United can choose from the likes of:
Baleba – Santos – Tielemans – Mainoo – Bruno – Mount
That is a completely different midfield group from the one United entered last season with.
£60m+ for Baleba? I Think That's Very Good Business
Transfer fees have become ridiculous, but context matters.
United aren't potentially paying £60m-plus for a player approaching 30 with little resale value. They're buying a 22-year-old Premier League midfielder who could conceivably occupy the position for the next seven or eight years.
Brighton's valuation of Baleba was being reported at more than £100m only last summer, when United were also interested but unwilling to go anywhere near that figure.
Getting him now for a figure potentially much closer to the £60m mark therefore looks particularly attractive.
There will obviously be some concern over the ankle ligament injury he suffered during pre-season, but Sky reports that the problem is not expected to keep him out for an extended period.
Assuming the medical presents no concerns, this feels like exactly the type of signing United should be making.
Young.
Premier League proven.
Huge physical upside.
Still capable of improving significantly.
And bought for the team rather than because he is the biggest name available.
So What Do United Need Now?
For me, the priorities have changed considerably.
A few weeks ago I would have said:
1. Defensive midfielder
2. Left-back
3. Striker
4. Possibly left wing
If Baleba signs, I think that becomes much simpler.
1. LEFT-BACK – THE FINAL MAJOR PIECE
This is now comfortably the biggest remaining weakness in the squad.
Patrick Dorgu looks increasingly dangerous playing higher up the pitch, while Luke Shaw is currently the only natural senior left-back.
Dalot and Mazraoui can fill in, but United are back in the Champions League and will be competing across four competitions. Building the season around Shaw remaining available every week would be an enormous gamble.
Sky Sports reported only days ago that United still need a left-back following pre-season, while Carrick has openly said he wants further additions before the window closes.
Lewis Hall
Hall remains my preferred option.
He is 21, English, Premier League proven and has the technical ability to play as a conventional overlapping full-back or step inside and help control midfield.
The problem is Newcastle.
United have already made an enquiry and Newcastle have told them Hall is not for sale.
That doesn't necessarily mean the conversation is finished – particularly this late in a transfer window – but United would almost certainly have to make Newcastle an offer sufficiently large to force them to reconsider.
If the price isn't completely ridiculous, he's the one I'd push hardest for.
Myles Lewis-Skelly
This has now become much more interesting.
The Guardian recently reported that Lewis-Skelly has been offered to United, with Arsenal potentially looking for around £45m.
United are understood to be considering the possibility.
At 19, his upside is enormous.
He can operate at left-back but also has the technical qualities to play in midfield, which gives Carrick another tactical option.
£45m for Lewis-Skelly versus potentially considerably more to persuade Newcastle to sell Hall is a genuinely interesting decision.
If Arsenal are really willing to sell to United, I'd be looking very closely at it.
Antonee Robinson
Robinson remains another credible option and has been monitored alongside Hall.
He would probably provide the most immediate certainty: proven Premier League quality, tremendous engine and excellent going forward.
The downside is simply age profile.
Robinson is approaching 29 whereas Hall is 21 and Lewis-Skelly only 19.
If United are going to spend £40m-plus, I'd prefer them to secure someone capable of owning the position for the next five-plus seasons.
David Raum
The Guardian has also named RB Leipzig's David Raum among the players United could assess.
At 28 he would again be more of an immediate solution than a long-term investment, but he's an experienced attacking left-back and could become relevant if Hall proves impossible and United decide Lewis-Skelly isn't the right profile.
My left-back order
1. Lewis Hall
2. Myles Lewis-Skelly
3. Antonee Robinson
4. David Raum
Hall remains my favourite, but at a reported £45m, Lewis-Skelly suddenly becomes very tempting.
Do We Actually Need Another Striker?
A few weeks ago I would have said yes.
Now?
I'm increasingly thinking no – at least not this summer.
And interestingly, that appears to be where United themselves are heading.
Sky Sports reported that, as things stand, another forward is unlikely, with Marcus Rashford's return providing Carrick with another solution up front.
Rashford has been fully reintegrated under Carrick and travelled with the squad for the final stages of pre-season.
That changes the calculation considerably.
United already have:
Benjamin Šeško
Joshua Zirkzee
Marcus Rashford
Matheus Cunha
Bryan Mbeumo
with several of those players capable of operating centrally.
Šeško should remain the first-choice No.9 and continue developing.
If Rashford genuinely buys into Carrick's project again, there is little point spending another £50m-£70m on a Watkins or Mateta simply to add another body.
Rashford can play through the middle when necessary, Cunha can operate centrally, Mbeumo can move inside and Zirkzee has shown encouraging signs during pre-season.
That is plenty of attacking variety.
Save the money.
Give Šeško the opportunity to become the striker United bought him to be.
Give Rashford a clean slate.
And reassess the position next summer if necessary.
Left Wing Can Wait Too
The same argument applies on the left.
Dorgu has looked increasingly interesting further forward and Carrick clearly sees attacking potential there.
Add a reintegrated Rashford and Cunha's ability to start from the left and suddenly United aren't desperate for another winger either.
That gives them:
LW: Rashford / Dorgu / Cunha
CF: Šeško / Rashford / Zirkzee / Cunha
RW: Mbeumo / Amad
That is a very healthy collection of attacking options.
Rather than buying another winger simply because one is available, I'd rather United wait until next summer and decide what they actually need after a full season under Carrick.
Just Get the Left-Back
If Baleba crosses the line, I'm genuinely struggling to remember a recent United transfer window that has felt this coherent.
United haven't simply accumulated names.
They appear to have identified weaknesses and attacked them.
Andrey Santos adds energy, mobility and enormous potential.
Youri Tielemans adds experience, passing quality and control.
Carlos Baleba would add power, ball-winning ability and athleticism.
Rashford's return potentially removes the need to spend heavily on another attacker.
Dorgu's development further forward provides another attacking option.
Which leaves one glaring hole:
Left-back.
Get Lewis Hall or Myles Lewis-Skelly through the door and, for me, you can shut the transfer window.
There will always be another player supporters want.
There will always be another exciting name linked.
But at some point you have to allow a coach to work with the squad you've assembled.
A final window of:
Andrey Santos ✅
Youri Tielemans ✅
Carlos Baleba ⏳
Lewis Hall / Myles Lewis-Skelly ❓
Marcus Rashford reintegrated ✅
would be an exceptional summer.
Then it's over to Michael Carrick.
For the first time in quite a while, United wouldn't simply have a good starting XI.
They'd have a squad that looks capable of competing properly across the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup.
Get the left-back and let's go.
19 Aug 2026 19:28:51
I'd agree with a lot of that, Philip.
I'd rather Rashford and/or Zirkzee moved on and we get a dedicated no9 to share the load with Sesko.
But if both refuse to leave, then we can only hope they do better than before.
Hall is very good, imo. Lost his place to Dan Burn towards the end of last season, so not sure what happened there.
Lewis Skelly has said he wants to play in midfield, apparently.
So would he want to come as a lb?
There are other very good options, as you say, and others, so we will get one.
Hall is 1st choice by the look of it, so reassuring is the right approach, as long as they have an option lined up, it might be last-minute. Com, but most of us can live with that without throwing out toys out of the pram.
19 Aug 2026 22:26:33
Square pegs, square holes required.
If Baleba signs, and I hope he will, he's the best option we could have hoped for this window for the DM role and aid that last week.
We need more specialists now. Left back is imperative. Hall is the only one I've seen play, so can't comment on the suitability of Salinas or Seys.
I do think we need another specialty striker, but I can't see us doing it this summer unless we sign Vlahovic for free and one of Zirkzee or Rashford leave.
20 Aug 2026 06:13:10
Square pegs, square holes? But Hall was still playing in midfield when he left Chelsea 2 years ago.
20 Aug 2026 07:20:36
That's probably why he didn't make it at Chelsea as he was played out of position.