Man Utd’s decision to make Baleba their ‘third midfielder’
Manchester United‘s midfield reconstruction is nearing completion. After signing Andrey Santos from Chelsea and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa in the space of 24 hours of each other last month, there has been an element of ‘will-they, won’t-they’ about the past five weeks. At times, it felt the ‘third midfielder’ search has taken on a life of its own. […] The post Man Utd’s decision to make…
Manchester United's midfield rebuilding is nearing completion after securing Andrey Santos from Chelsea and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa within a span of 24 hours. The pursuit of a 'third midfielder' has been a subject of speculation, with names like Real Madrid's Aurelien Tchouameni, Bournemouth's Alex Scott, Roma's Manu Kone, Fulham's Sander Berge, and Bournemouth's Tyler Adams being considered.
United had privately downplayed interest in Brighton's Carlos Baleba but ultimately made an offer of £60m plus an additional £5m. While the deal might not be sufficient, talks are ongoing, and a transfer is expected to materialize. The impact of these signings remains to be seen, as the effectiveness of the players will only be determined after they have had ample playing time.
However, it is clear that United's data and recruitment department have successfully restructured Michael Carrick's midfield. With the departure of veteran Brazilian Casemiro, Ruben Amorim's exit, and Manuel Ugarte's questionable transfer fee, Kobbie Mainoo was the only experienced midfielder expected to play a significant role in the 2026-27 season.
Santos has demonstrated his ability to screen the defense in pre-season, while Tielemans boasts composure, a wide passing range, and a determination to improve his goal-scoring.
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