Man Utd could seize major Carlos Baleba advantage by appointing the manager who signed him

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The one area of the pitch Manchester United did not strengthen in the summer was the midfield, which may become a regret for Ineos and Ruben Amorim.

Manchester United signed five new players during the summer, with most emphasis put on bolstering Ruben Amorim’s attacking department after the team struggled to score goals last season.

The new attacking players include Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko – but they have only played one game as a trio, in United’s 3-1 defeat to Brentford last weekend.

United also signed Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp, while Diego Leon joined the club after signing a pre-agreement in January.

This means United overlooked the midfield again, despite losing Christian Eriksen at the end of his contract. Ineos considered a deal for £100m-rated Carlos Baleba, after he enjoyed an impressive season in Brighton’s midfield.

However, the managerial situation at Old Trafford is now causing as much debate as the midfield dilemma.

Man Utd target Roberto De Zerbi brought Carlos Baleba to Brighton

The speculation over Amorim will only continue to grow if United lose to Sunderland.

Amorim hasn’t received public backing from Ineos, and it is understood that former midfielder Michael Carrick has been sounded out as a potential interim manager.

United in Focus exclusively revealed that Marseille and former Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi has emerged as a target.

De Zerbi, who is regarded highly by United’s hierarchy, was responsible for bringing Baleba to Brighton in 2023.

Brighton signed Baleba from Ligue 1 club Lille in a deal worth £23.2m, with De Zerbi stating that he had a bright future at the club.

“Carlos is a very good player,” De Zerbi said at the time, as quoted by Sky Sports.

“He’s very young but a specific player for our style. He will be the future of the club.”

Baleba was signed as a long-term replacement for Moises Caicedo.

Opinion: Carlos Baleba suffers dip in form for Brighton

Baleba has struggled for consistency since the start of the season.

The Cameroon international was heavily linked with a move to United in the summer, but has struggled to hit the same heights as he did last season.

Now, Baleba’s place in the Brighton team is not guaranteed.

Brighton manager Fabian Hürzeler has blamed United links for Baleba’s form, while former Seagulls striker Warren Aspinall has demanded an improvement.

“Hopefully the manager, along with Baleba, is putting it down to the Manchester United talks,” Aspinall told BBC Sport.

“I saw him warming up against Manchester City – it was like running around the park with his mates. Once you get to the ground, concentration levels have to be much better.

“He’s one of the players who has let himself down. He has one great game, one good game and two bad ones. He needs to turn the bad games into good games.

“You can’t switch it on like a tap – it’s not that easy in the Premier League. High-intensity football is about closing down, winning loose balls and breaking forward.

“I have seen none of that this season.”