Carlos Baleba is a name that has quietly swum around in the background of Man Utd’s midfield rebuild, but that could change soon.
It has been a long 12 months for Carlos Baleba, who has gone from being the potential crown jewel of Man Utd’s midfield to an unwanted backup.
The player is to blame for that shift, having put in a disastrous season for Brighton that has soured him in the minds of Man Utd fans.
He’s become the high-risk, high-reward gamble this summer, but the dynamics have now changed around his transfer.
What is the MAXIMUM you would pay for Carlos Baleba this summer?
After a tough season, how much should Manchester United be risking?
Carlos Baleba transfer dynamics change for Man Utd
Since January, Baleba has kept shuffling down the list of Man Utd’s midfield targets, but there has always been a feeling that United might try and go back for him.
They would try for the likes of Elliot Anderson, Sandro Tonali, or Aurelien Tchouameni, to name a few, but Baleba was the backup option.
He’s desperate to come to Old Trafford, and the personal terms were agreed last summer itself, so it looked like a deal that would happen if United struck out on their first-choice targets.
As it stands, United might not have that luxury anymore, with Tottenham throwing a wrench in their plans and altering the dynamics completely.
The Athletic reports that Spurs have made a bid for Jan Paul Van Hecke, who is in the last 12 months of his contract.
Unlike Baleba, whose contract runs until 2029 (due to a one-year club option), Hecke has already entered must-sell territory for Brighton.
The Seagulls don’t gut their team every season, but always sell a key player or two, so Van Hecke’s future makes things trickier for Baleba and United.
The two clubs were already far apart on their valuation of the player. Who’s to say that valuation won’t climb up further once Brighton cash in on Van Hecke?
Ineos could be forced into clarity over Baleba
The effect of Spurs’ bid for Van Hecke is that United could be forced to get clarity over Baleba’s future, one way or another.
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?🤔
If they just see him as an emergency backup, then the fee that he will demand no longer makes sense considering his position on the priority list.
If he’s not, then United should just close this chapter and move in a different direction in their rebuild, third midfielder or not.
In a way, this is good for both Baleba and United, because this story has gone on for long enough without any actual progress since United’s inquiry was knocked back last summer.
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