Carlos Baleba could be one of the most transformative signings in Manchester United history
There comes a time when a football club makes a signing and it completely transforms the trajectory of their fortunes for the forthcoming number of years. Liverpool had a situation like this with Virgil Van Dijk and Alisson, with both players playing pivotal roles in the rejuvenation of the sleepwalking giant that was the great club from the red side of Merseyside.
Manchester United have had it before, signing king Eric Cantona in what turned out to be arguably the single greatest and most transformative signing the Premier League has ever seen in November 1992. These signings propel a project and kickstart a revolution under a new manager. Manchester United have the chance to make one of those signings in the coming weeks before the deadline closes on September 1st, and his name is Carlos Baleba.
#I’M A BALEBA
The hashtag #I’mABaleba, is sweeping through Manchester United fandom like a tractor through a field of grass, churning out excitement along the way amongst a fanbase who did not feel they’d be targeting these types of players this summer. Many in the United faithful had dark fears about the club’s potential to lure players to an ageing and almost decrepit Old Trafford, but their weight throwing thus far in the market, even against their rivals in much better positions in the present day, has been nothing short of a stark reminder of who the hell Manchester United are.
United are a juggernaut. A global icon, and not just in the football sense. They are among the three biggest clubs in the world, and when you compare every metric available, multiplied by media coverage across the board, it’s hard to argue that on their day, they aren’t the very biggest in all the lands. Benjamin Sesko, as confirmed by Elvis Bansanovic, his agent, always wanted Manchester United. Matheus Cunha only wanted Manchester United. Bryan Mbeumo turned down Chelsea, Arsenal and Newcastle United to wait patiently for 15th-placed Manchester United. And guess what? Carlos Baleba wants Manchester United too.
And Brighton will stand firm, as they should. This is a truly title-winning midfielder. A stalwart in central midfield, filled to the brim with high-octane pace, raw, unadulterated power, and an elegance that befits a player five or six years his senior. This is an opportunity Manchester United have decided they have to push for now, as failure to land Baleba during this window opens the doors up to one of the biggest tug-of-wars for a midfielder in the league’s history next season. The previous Moisés Caicedo saga has proved that Brighton do not mince their words in negotiations, and they will hold out for a fee they feel makes total sense to them for the player, and not a cent cheaper.
Addressing the midfield issues
Manchester United’s midfield is slow in many aspects. It’s an issue they’ve failed to address since Paul Pogba left the club, but there is perhaps a belief that due to Baleba’s profile and defensive prowess at such a young age, his signing could reach even a level that Pogba couldn’t get to while at the club. Amadou Onana has spoken of the strength that Baleba had even as a younger player during his period at Lille, detailing how the Cameroonian international would train with the first team and physically overpower even some of the first team players at the time. Physicality and tenacity – these are the traits that Ruben Amorim demands. Carlos Baleba has both in abundance.
It’s a transfer window INEOS do deserve credit for, despite the easy option to criticise the ownership since they took over. Of course, the decision to lay off so many staff was always bound to leave a bitter taste in the mouths of many, me included, but it’s hard to argue with the fact some of it was a necessary evil in a club that was steered into the abyss by sadistic owners who continuously committed gross misconduct over the course of more than a decade. Rome wasn’t built in a day, but they may just provide the building blocks for a Baleba signing with the purchase of Jadon Sancho after recent reports.
Deal is possible, but difficult
The deal remains difficult due to financial restraints. Manchester United have already negotiated with a tough side this summer in Brentford, but Brighton can be described as their evil twin when it comes to negotiations. This isn’t a snide remark towards either club; in fact, it’s quite the contrary. Many clubs in the Premier League could only dream of operating in the manner of the likes of Tony Bloom and Matthew Benham, two stark followers of the MoneyBall method popularised by Billy Beane at the Oakland A’s and subsequently emulated by Liverpool’s owners FSG at the Boston Red Sox in baseball. They drive a hard bargain, but they almost always get what they want, and that’s not expected to change with Baleba.
A pure fact of the matter is, Manchester United need Carlos Baleba. Alternatives on the market include Ederson from Atalanta, whose situation has changed hands recently, pointing towards something potentially happening with regards to his future in the coming weeks, but outside of that, links to other midfielders have been few and far between. Lucien Agoume should be an option, but as of now that is a quiet situation. Baleba is United’s prime target, and they are adopting an all-or-nothing attitude towards him this summer, which could backfire majorly or become a true stroke of genius.
Nevertheless, it’s a signing worthy of transforming a project, it’s a player worthy of being a Manchester United player, and it’s a deal that CERTAINLY CAN happen before deadline day. A lot of things need to go right before it does, though.
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