Manchester United have completed a major overhaul of their midfield with the arrival of Carlos Baleba, taking their summer spending in the position to around £155 million and leaving manager Michael Carrick with a far broader range of options.
Baleba joins from Brighton in a deal worth about £70 million, following the arrivals of Andrey Santos from Chelsea for £48 million and former Aston Villa midfielder Youri Tielemans for £35 million.
Together with Kobbie Mainoo, the additions give United four midfielders with contrasting qualities, while three of the group are aged 22 or younger.
The rebuild addresses one of the areas identified as a priority after United secured Champions League qualification following a two-year absence.
Hull Defeat Raises Fresh Questions
Despite the extensive investment in midfield, United’s disappointing defeat by Hull has immediately shifted attention to other parts of Carrick’s squad.
The loss prompted questions about the team’s attitude and intensity, with Carrick becoming visibly frustrated when former Middlesbrough and Swindon Town forward Jan Aage Fjortoft suggested United had lacked passion.
“Come on, that’s ridiculous,” Carrick responded, insisting the criticism was unfair.
The reaction underlined the level of scrutiny surrounding United, where a single poor result can quickly reignite pressure and expose concerns that had previously been overshadowed by transfer activity.
Luke Shaw’s Fitness Remains a Major Concern
Left-back now appears to be the next position under consideration, largely because of uncertainty surrounding Luke Shaw’s ability to cope with a demanding campaign.
Shaw, 31, started every Premier League match for United last season and was also in the starting XI for the defeat at Hull.
He has started 31 of the club’s last 32 league matches, demonstrating his importance to the team when fit.
However, his previous injury record remains a concern.
Between February 2024 and April 2025, Shaw made only three appearances for United while also playing three times for England.
He also missed approximately three months at the beginning of the 2023-24 campaign.
Calf and hamstring problems disrupted his progress, while there were also concerns that he had been brought back from injury too quickly during Erik ten Hag’s tenure.
A Heavier Schedule Could Test Shaw
One of the reasons Shaw managed to maintain his fitness last season was the relatively manageable schedule, which gave him substantial preparation time and often involved only one match per week.
That luxury is unlikely to continue this season.
United’s opening schedule contains some blank midweeks, but progress through the EFL Cup would leave Carrick facing a sustained run of matches with little recovery time.
Aside from international breaks, there is expected to be no completely free midweek until the period surrounding Christmas.
That workload has strengthened the argument for bringing in another specialist left-back who can share the responsibility with Shaw.
Lewis Hall Emerges as United’s Preferred Target
Newcastle United defender Lewis Hall is believed to be a player Manchester United admire.
The 21-year-old fits the club’s preferred age profile and could potentially challenge Shaw for the starting position while benefiting from the number of matches available during the season.
The obstacle is Newcastle’s reluctance to sell.
United would likely need to make a substantial offer to persuade Newcastle to part with Hall, while the Manchester club’s decision-makers have demonstrated during the current transfer window that they are unwilling to overpay simply to complete a deal.
United Must Consider Their Financial Position
The potential pursuit of another expensive player also comes against a backdrop of significant financial commitments.
United’s published third-quarter financial accounts, covering the period to March 31, showed £405.75 million in outstanding transfer payments.
More than £171 million of that amount was not due until after the following year.
The club has also yet to fully explain how it intends to deploy the additional $125 million, equivalent to approximately £91.64 million, raised through a wider refinancing announced in June.
Baleba’s reported £70 million price tag is already at the upper end of the spending United had intended for the midfielder position.
The fee matches what the club paid for Casemiro in 2022 and ranks behind only the £89 million spent on Paul Pogba among United’s most expensive midfield signings.
Other Left-Back Options Remain Available
Hall is not the only defender linked with a possible move to Old Trafford.
Racing Santander teenager Jorge Salinas is reportedly available for €16 million through a release clause.
However, the 19-year-old is also attracting interest from Atletico Madrid.
Barcelona’s Alejandro Balde has also been linked with United.
The Spain international was omitted from Barcelona’s 5-0 La Liga victory over Elche amid transfer speculation, with manager Hansi Flick reportedly saying the decision would allow the defender to clear his mind.
Balde’s valuation is believed to be somewhere between €30 million and €40 million, potentially making a permanent deal considerably more expensive than Salinas.
United Have Few Obvious Players to Sell
With the transfer window closing on September 1, the possibility of another left-back signing could depend on whether United generate additional funds through player sales.
Marcus Rashford’s departure appears increasingly unlikely after he was confirmed as the club’s number nine for the new season.
Manuel Ugarte had been expected to leave, but an injury sustained at the World Cup has complicated those plans.
Joshua Zirkzee appears to be one of the players who could be considered surplus to requirements, although uncertainty surrounding Amad Diallo’s fitness could influence the club’s decision.
Reports have suggested Diallo could miss up to six weeks, although United have not provided details about the extent of his injury.
Carrick Already Has Emergency Options
Carrick could decide that another signing is unnecessary because he has several players capable of filling in at left-back.
Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui have both operated on the left side previously, while Baleba has experience playing as a full-back during his time with Brighton.
United also have 19-year-old Harry Amass, who acted as Shaw’s understudy during pre-season.
However, Amass was not included in the squad for the Hull match and has been expected to leave either permanently or on loan before the transfer window closes.
Another Signing Is Expected but Not Guaranteed
There remains a belief within football circles that United will add another left-back before the September 1 deadline, but there is increasing caution over treating the deal as certain.
The club’s financial commitments, Newcastle’s stance on Hall and the limited number of obvious players available for sale all complicate the situation.
Carrick therefore has a choice between trusting Shaw to maintain his fitness, using existing squad players as cover or committing further funds to strengthen the position.
What’s Next for Manchester United?
The immediate focus will be on how Carrick manages his squad following the Hull setback and whether the new midfield can quickly provide the improvement United expected from the summer rebuild.
With Baleba now completing the midfield overhaul, attention will increasingly turn toward defensive depth, particularly at left-back.
United have until September 1 to make their final decision, meaning the next few days could determine whether Shaw has genuine competition for his position or remains Carrick’s undisputed first choice.
Summary
Carlos Baleba’s arrival completes Manchester United’s £155 million midfield rebuild, giving Michael Carrick four contrasting midfield options alongside Kobbie Mainoo.
However, concerns over Luke Shaw’s injury history and the demands of a congested fixture schedule have created a new priority at left-back.
Lewis Hall is among the leading targets, although Newcastle’s reluctance to sell and United’s financial commitments could prevent a major deal.
With several alternative solutions already available within the squad, Manchester United’s pursuit of another left-back remains possible but far from guaranteed before the September 1 transfer deadline.
