Manchester United transfer target Carlos Baleba was hauled off after just 22 minutes of Brighton’s Premier League clash with Aston Villa on Wednesday night.
The midweek Premier League action saw Manchester United draw 1-1 against West Ham on their travels to London.
Tomas Soucek opened the scoring for West Ham after 50 minutes, following a dull first half that saw United create the biggest chance as Aaron Wan-Bissaka cleared Luke Shaw’s shot off the line.
However, a 96th-minute equaliser from Benjamin Sesko rescued a point for United to ensure that Michael Carrick kept his unbeaten record since returning to the club as head coach.
How many points will Man Utd get from the next five games? Let’s hear your predictions/hopes…
Michael Carrick took 13 points from his first five…
The draw was enough to keep United in the top four because Leeds came from behind to share the points with Chelsea.
Another game concerning United in one way or another was Aston Villa vs Brighton.
Man Utd target Carlos Baleba struggles against Aston Villa
The biggest reason United would have had interest in Wednesday night’s game at Villa Park is the race for a top-four finish.
Villa are currently third in the Premier League and within reach of the Red Devils.
Jadon Sancho also started for Villa, even though the United loanee is expected to leave Old Trafford as a free agent in the summer.
Moreover, United are still being linked with Carlos Baleba. Brighton pushed back an inquiry in January after United’s failed transfer pursuit in the summer.
Baleba was named in the Brighton starting eleven, but he will be hoping that any potential suitors weren’t paying close attention.
The Cameroon international was booked after one minute and 51 seconds for unnecessarily hauling down Rogers. This meant Baleba was on a tightrope from the opening minutes.
Although Baleba was one of the top-rated midfielders in the Premier League, he has struggled this season following links to United. He continued to struggle after receiving an early yellow card.
Fabian Hurzeler wasted no time and instructed James Milner to warm up after 14 minutes. The substitution was made after 22 minutes.
Baleba was later seen in the dugout burying his head in his shirt, as observed by Nathan Salt of the Daily Mail. The reporter took to X with the following update: “And he’s been substituted after 22 minutes as he buries his head in his shirt. He’s inconsolable on the bench.
“Overall that’s a nightmare outing from Baleba.”
IS Carlos Baleba’s form concerning or do you still want him at Manchester United?🇨🇲
CAN he handle the PRESSURE of playing at Old Trafford after he hasn't coped with the links well?🤔
It was the sort of performance that won’t do him any favours if he’s planning a big move away from Brighton in the summer, especially after Brighton previously valued him at over £100 million.
United will need to rethink Baleba as a target if his form doesn’t pick up between now and the end of the season.
Carlos Baleba stats from disaster Aston Villa display
Baleba didn’t help matters for Brighton as the Seagulls were floored by a late Aston Villa winner.
Villa scored the only goal in the final minutes, but it’s Baleba’s display that should be the biggest warning of all to United.
The 22-year-old had a 57% pass success rate after 22 minutes on the pitch, and made two defensive contributions.
Baleba touched the ball 14 times and made one interception.
He also committed one foul, which is how he picked up the early yellow card.
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