Brighton’s Carlos Baleba Seen as Promising Midfield Addition for Manchester United

Eric Djemba-Djemba has identified Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba as a promising candidate to strengthen Manchester United’s midfield options. Speaking with Betinia, Djemba-Djemba emphasized Baleba’s experience in the Premier League and his potential to develop further at Old Trafford.

With Casemiro set to leave Manchester United on a free transfer, the club is actively seeking reinforcements to bolster their midfield. Michael Carrick faces the task of assembling a squad capable of competing for the Premier League title, prompting interest in several players with top-flight experience in England.

Among the names linked with Manchester United are Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, both considered ready to step up in the Premier League. Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes are also under scrutiny regarding their futures. However, Baleba remains a potential target, especially given previous attempts to acquire him following his 2023 move to Brighton.

Djemba-Djemba described Baleba as a young, box-to-box midfielder who has already played regularly in the Premier League for three years. “For me, yes, why not? He’s a young player, box-to-box player, and I think three years he’s been playing regular games with Brighton—he knows the Premier League, how it works,” he said. “For me, it would be a good signing for him. Now, Manchester United have the decision, Michael Carrick has the decision, but for me, I think it would be a good signing for him.”

At 22 years old, Baleba is viewed as a player for both the present and future at Manchester United. Djemba-Djemba noted that while Baleba has room to improve, particularly in adapting to the tempo of top-level games, he has the capacity to develop quickly at a club of United’s stature.

“I think with the tempo of the game, like Casemiro, like Fede Valverde, tempo of the game, but I think he will learn, he will learn because he’s still young, 22 years old and to play as a midfielder is not too easy and Manchester United is a big team and there you need to learn fast,” Djemba-Djemba explained. “I know if Baleba goes to Manchester, he will improve his game again, so that he will learn.”

Djemba-Djemba also highlighted the example set by current United captain Bruno Fernandes as a model for Baleba to emulate. “He needs to have the tempo of the game, how to manage the game, to keep the ball, like Bruno—you see how Bruno Fernandes is playing, he has the tempo, he’s a king, he’s a chef, he manages the game,” he said. “For me, Baleba, he can do that and I think he will grow up again.”

Baleba’s style is more aligned with that of a holding midfielder, similar to Casemiro, rather than a creative playmaker like Fernandes. Nonetheless, the Portuguese midfielder’s record-setting 21 assists in a single Premier League season provides a benchmark for Baleba to aspire to in terms of maximizing his impact on the pitch.

Michael Carrick is preparing to enter the summer transfer market with the intention of adding another energetic midfielder to complement Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo. The decision on which player to pursue remains open as Carrick evaluates options to strengthen the team’s core.