With a £65 million deal for the Brighton midfielder nearing completion, the Red Devils pivot toward defensive reinforcements and a potential attacking replacement before the deadline.
Manchester United are closing in on their fourth signing of the summer as they begin to close an agreement for Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba.
The Cameroon international was a player they wanted last summer, but a deal was not possible as while United saw his market value at around £60 million, Brighton demanded well in excess of £100 million.
However, following a mixed season and a pre-season injury, United returned to the table, with reports suggesting that a deal of around £60 million, plus a further £5 million in add-ons, is almost complete.
Baleba suffered an ankle ligament injury in training earlier this summer, but the problem is not as serious as first thought, suggesting he could be back to full fitness before the end of September.
United could make two more transfers
Should the Baleba deal be finalised in the coming days, United's midfield rebuild would be complete. The 22-year-old would join Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans in the middle of the park as new signings, with Karl Darlow also the club's new second-choice in goal.
However, speaking on his YouTube channel, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano was keen to stress that United are far from complete in the market, with a further two signings possible before the end of the window.
According to the Italian journalist, United are almost guaranteed to sign a new left-back this summer, while the club could also look for a new striker if Joshua Zirkzee departs.
Reports from Italy in the last few weeks have suggested that both Napoli and Juventus are keen on signing the Dutchman, who is well-liked in the Serie A after winning Serie A Young Player of the Season in 2024.
Better late than never...
About 48 hours ago, the mood around United among the fanbase was much sourer. The message seemed to be that United would only pounce on a third midfielder if a good market opportunity surfaced, with no links to Baleba.
But, with United working on that deal behind the scenes for the last few weeks, and combining this with Romano's latest report, it seems as if the club are finally trying to fix the final few holes in their squad before the window shuts on Tuesday, 1 September.
A new left-back is a major priority. With Harry Amass likely to leave the club either on loan or permanently in the next two weeks, Luke Shaw is the club's only senior option in the position, meaning a rotation option might join.
Roundtable revealed on Wednesday that United have held talks with the representatives of Racing Santander left-back Jorge Salinas.
If Zirkzee does leave, it is the perfect chance to secure a more experienced back-up and mentor option to Benjamin Šeško at striker.
