The £50m star is “in agreement” to join Man Utd

Manchester United looks like it will eat again at the European football table next season.

If the Premier League season were to end today, Michael Carrick’s men would win the Champions League for the first time since exiting the prestigious competition in the group stage during the difficult 2023/24 campaign.

To prepare for that next level, after years in the wilderness, United will be busy in the upcoming transfer market, and the summer is also a crucial time, as the Red Devils assess who will be their permanent boss for the exciting season ahead.

Man Utd have a deal for a big-money midfielder

Alongside Carrick possibly leaving Old Trafford, it has been confirmed that Casemiro will leave the Red Devils in the summer, which will set up a topsy-turvy stay at the club.

So the main rumors involving the Manchester giants, include who they will bring in to fill the void left by the Brazilian, with Real Madrid star Aurelien Tchouaméni a suspected top target.

Indeed, the £70m war – according to journalist Andy Mitten – “is the only Spanish player United have been looking at”, with other targets in the midfield coming in the form of Atalanta powerhouse Ederson, and Newcastle United stalwart Sandro Tonali.

Carlos Baleba could also be on the cards, with the Red Devils having a strong long-term interest in the Brighton and Hove Albion enforcer.

According to the transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, through his YouTube channel, Baleba is still determined to move to the Theater of Dreams this summer, Romano even pointed out that the verbal agreement still exists between the two parties, which was agreed on in 2025.

“Baleba wanted to go to Man United”, Romano started. “The agreement on personal terms is still valid. Man Utd now need to decide whether they want Baleba or not.”

There would be a few hurdles for United to overcome to keep the man they want, with the appointment of a permanent manager still to be sorted out, along with Brighton’s position on selling their 22-year-old hero, but Baleba would be a better signing than United shelling out big bucks for Tchouaméni, if the move goes through at £50 off, at our reduced price.

Why Baleba would be a better signing than Tchouaméni

This may sound like a bold statement when he first took it, with Tchouaméni once noted as “one of the best defensive midfielders in the world” by commentator Raj Chohan.

But, with all the praise the Frenchman has received in recent times, and classy displays for Los Blancos becoming the norm, he will be a tough target to tempt Old Trafford, with a whopping £70m next to his name.

That’s why Baleba could prove to be a better use of money in the long run, with his value down to £50m, and if he can return to his peak, which he faces in the 2024/25 campaign, he is on par with his La Liga-winning team-mate.

Baleba hasn’t set the Premier League alight this season, but he has plenty of top-flight experience in England at his side at just 22, which Tchouaméni doesn’t, with his impressive numbers of 24/25 also out, alongside Madrid’s result of 14 in the 25/26 campaign.

Bettering Tchouaméni in many different areas of the midfield, it is clear that if the number 17 can push his troubled campaign to one side, he would be the perfect, inexpensive successor to Casemiro, with Baleba previously described as “world class” by journalist Ryan Adsett.

If he is worth £100m, United must go ahead and see if they can get hold of the Cameroonian at a reduced price, as he once again struck hard from a holding position in midfield.

If they had succeeded in buying Baleba for such a reduced fee, Tchouaméni’s name would have been a thing of the past.

Related

Bigger talent than Baleba: Man Utd are seriously considering signing the £80m star

Manchester United are ready to make a few marquee signings in the summer transfer market.