Sky Sports pundit Micah Richards told Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker the impact that Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba could have on Manchester United’s entire forthcoming Premier League season.
Carlos Baleba has been linked with Manchester United in recent weeks and the 21-year-old Cameroonian midfielder has now become a key target for the Red Devils.
The United-linked talent has deeply impressed at Brighton and helped fill the void at the Amex after Moises Caicedo’s blockbuster £115m departure to Chelsea in 2023.
Baleba arrived at Brighton in 2023 from Ligue 1 outfit Lille as a replacement for Chelsea ace Moises Caicedo and has established himself as a key player for the club.
The Red Devils have been heavily linked with bringing a new defensive midfielder to Old Trafford this summer and former Lille star Baleba is now on United’s radar.
It is believed that United have expressed an interest in signing the Cameroon international, who is currently under contract at the Amex until 2028.
Gary Lineker reacts to Micah Richards’ powerful Carlos Baleba remarks amid the predictions for Man Utd’s 2025-26 season
Brighton are expected to play hardball over Manchester United target Carlos Baleba amid the Red Devils’ growing transfer interest in the Cameroon midfielder.
The Seagulls want to keep hold of Baleba this summer, despite United potentially making a stunning swoop for the player before the window shuts in September.
Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker dropped their predictions for where United will finish in the new season and they were on the same wavelength over a mid-table spot.
However, Micah Richards disagreed with Shearer and Lineker and felt that United could do even better in the 2025-26 Premier League season with Baleba’s arrival.
“I think better than that [finishing mid-table],” he said on The Rest Is Football podcast.
“I look at their squad now and they’d be linked with Baleba as well. If they can get Baleba…”
Interjecting during Richards’ eye-opening assessment of Baleba, Lineker added: “That would make a difference because he’s got the legs that they need in that kind of…”
Richards then interjected and added: “Correct.”
Micah Richards’ Premier League prediction for the 2025-26 season at Old Trafford under Ruben Amorim
Richards did raise his concerns about United’s penalty shootout win over Fiorentina on Saturday and he remained critical of Ruben Amorim’s tactical system.
“The only problem I have, though, guys, is still the formation,” The Rest Is Football co-host explained.
“So, in the pre-season friendly the other day against Fiorentina, they went with I think [Mason] Mount up top as like a false nine, [Bryan] Mbeumo to the right and [Matheus] Cunha sort of to the left. [Bruno] Fernandes and Casemiro in midfield.
“They had [Patrick] Dorgu one side and [Amad] Diallo the other side. And I just think the formation is really hindering them.”
Richards continued: “I think if they [were] playing a 4-3-3, I think they could be challenging for [the] Europa League, but he’s not going to change.
“So, when you watch the clips and everything, and Fernandes is a little bit further back.
“So, they need Fernandes because he’s the one who wants to get on the ball and get them ticking and all that.”
Richards added that he felt United would land in the “top six” next season, following the Red Devils’ 15th-place finish in the 2024-25 Premier League campaign.
“I’m going to say top six,” he said.
Responding to Richards, Lineker asked: “So, Europe?”
Richards added: “Yeah, I’m going to say Europe. Yeah.”
United will kick off their new Premier League season on Sunday and the Red Devils will face Arsenal at Old Trafford, with kick-off slated for 4:30pm UK time.
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