Manchester United have done the hard part of this summer’s midfield rebuild, but now Carlos Baleba is clearly the best option to complete the overhaul.
Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans have improved Manchester United’s midfield options tenfold from last season, but another signing is needed to really give Michael Carrick a group to challenge on all fronts.
Aurelien Tchouameni would be the dream, but this looks unlikely based on recent rumours, meaning United will need to look elsewhere and no further than Carlos Baleba.
Despite the trail going cold, Carrick is said to be a fan of Baleba, and he would be a brilliant addition to the midfield group. The deal fits into the high-risk, high-reward category.
Not many will be completely compelled by Baleba, but here is why he might be perfect for United.
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Carlos Baleba is the defensive midfield demon Manchester United should sign
While there is a chance Kobbie Mainoo might be United’s defensive midfield solution if Carrick goes down the route of having multiple eights instead of a specialist six, chances are United will end up going for a ground-eating, ball-winning, physical athlete in the mould of Carlos Baleba.
The Cameroonian was Ruben Amorim’s dream signing, and while United’s requirements and style have drastically changed under Carrick, Baleba should remain an option, in spite of his step backwards during 2025/26.
Using data from Scout Lab, we can see that while Baleba may have struggled on the ball during the 2025/26 season, leading to highlight reels of reasons United shouldn’t sign him, defensively, there isn’t a better option on the market right now.
- 1.50 aerial duels won per 90 – 95th percentile
- 58.5% aerial duels won – 86th percentile
- 3.34 tackles and interceptions per 90 – 86th percentile
- 6.77 recoveries per 90 – 87th percentile
- 1.77 duels won per 90 – 70th percentile
- 0.41 xThreat prevented per 90 – 86th percentile
What adds to how impressive Baleba is is how he is combative and changes the game all over the pitch, as evidenced in his defensive actions map from the 2025/26 campaign below.
Baleba isn’t a six who sits; he presses, recovers the ball, and wins it high up the pitch with his intense running and aggression.
You only have to think back to May when United beat Brighton 3-0. Baleba didn’t start, but he did come off the bench while Brighton already trailed the game by three goals and had an immense impact.
Baleba changed the game completely, putting Brighton in control, and the display was a reminder of what he is capable of despite a poor campaign overall. He was Brighton’s only good performer, winning six duels in 31 minutes.
The 22-year-old is a game breaker, with his power, speed, height, and athleticism all contributing to making him unstoppable when he is on it, which should be more consistent in the coming campaign.
Baleba is a risk for United. But he is a calculated one, which could age beautifully.
A big factor of Baleba’s struggles last season was linked to his frustration at being denied a move to Old Trafford, but if United signed him, he would be in a far better place to succeed now than 12 months ago, with the midfield not so thin that he is hugely relied upon.
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Baleba needs to improve his passing to succeed at United
Baleba’s biggest strengths right now are his athleticism and ball-winning, but to succeed at United, he would need to develop on the ball, particularly in his forward passing.
As shown in the graph below, Baleba’s passing is best when sideways, as evidenced by the lack of advanced passing.
But with a player like Youri Tielemans ahead of him, he should learn the ropes a lot quicker, given how excellent the Belgian is on the ball.
Baleba is an elite ball carrier, and that won’t be a concern, but if he were signed to play in the midfield for United, Carrick would need him to be more savvy in the pass, capable of picking out more attacking teammates.
This shouldn’t be that big of a task. Baleba is young, still evolving, and when on form, his passing is pretty solid; he just needs to be reliable in possession.
United could make a safer signing than Baleba this summer, but the upside to the Cameroon international is huge and impossible to ignore.
Ineos can afford the risk, given that the rest of the midfield rebuild has been so solid and affordable.
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