Manchester United have been very busy this summer as Ruben Amorim goes about constructing a new-look Red Devils side ahead of the forthcoming Premier League season.
There will be a lot of excitement brewing about the attack the ex-Sporting boss will be able to field for the opening clash with Arsenal, as Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha look to fire in the goals for Amorim’s revitalised team to put the horrors of Rasmus Hojlund behind them.
Benjamin Sesko has also now been added to the mix for a jaw-dropping £73.7m, with the drawn-out deal seeing the Red Devils beat Newcastle United to his coveted signature.
Now, the focus will surely turn away from adding more attackers to the camp, as a £104m midfielder continues to be linked with a dramatic switch to Old Trafford.
Man United prepare to make bid for £104m star
Nobody can argue against the fact that United are attacking the transfer window with some intent.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Indeed, Amorim’s striker options could soon be enhanced even more by ex-Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin joining on a free transfer, notably sacking his agent in a bid to force through a move to Old Trafford.
On top of that, a move for Douglas Luiz to return to the Premier League after a golden Aston Villa stint could also be on, with United named as a keen party looking at the Brazilian midfielder.
However, their biggest statement signing of the chaotic window so far would come in the form of the Red Devils winning Carlos Baleba’s in-demand signature.
The Brighton and Hove Albion battler has been eyed up by a whole host of top-flight clubs so far this summer, but reports by Spanish outlet Marca indicate that United are now ready to make a bid for the Cameroonian this week.
Previously judged to be worth around the eye-watering £104m price range, it is stated that United believe they have the funds at hand to win the exciting 21-year-old, ahead of every other suitor locked into the race for his elusive signature.
How Baleba is shades of Carrick
Picking up such a promising gem from another Premier League side means this deal feels somewhat similar to when United snapped up Michael Carrick in 2006 from Tottenham Hotspur.
The rest ended up being history for Carrick at the Theatre of Dreams, as he cemented himself as a calm but tough presence in the midfield department during the club’s recent golden years, after waving goodbye to North London.
At the time, the £18m forked out to sign Carrick would have been deemed a pretty penny to pay.
However, he would certainly prove himself to be worth every bit of his price tag across his lengthy stay in Manchester, with a stunning five Premier League titles held aloft due, in part, to the defensive midfielder’s well-rounded brilliance centrally.
From 464 appearances for the Red Devils, Carrick chipped in with a reasonable 24 goals and 35 assists.
Across his entire Premier League career, though, Carrick would stick out as an assured performer with the ball at his feet – away from attempting shots galore – with a sublime 18,978 passes accurately completed across his illustrious playing days at the very top, as per the Premier League.
708 tackles were also won across the same period, with this universal ability to be both classy yet gritty even seeing Spanish legend Xavi herald him as a “complete player.”
Baleba has been displaying sprinkles of this same, versatile game from the centre of the park for the Seagulls for some time now, with a sweet strike such as the one above hammered home against West Ham United up his sleeve.
Yet, he is also keen to get stuck in for his team’s cause, away from just being a lively goalscoring presence, with Baleba now wanting to be the standout spark from the middle of the pitch that restores Amorim and Co. to their former glories, much like Carrick was under Sir Alex Ferguson’s unmatched reign.
Games played
34
Goals scored
3
Assists
1
Touches*
54.0
Accurate passes*
33.6 (88%)
Big chances created
3
Tackles*
2.3
Ball recoveries*
5.8
Total duels won*
5.9
The table above further reinforces Baleba’s similarities to the past United legend, with his ability to be both forward-thinking, with three big chances created last season in Premier League action, while also winning 5.9 duels per match, making him the perfect candidate to be Amorim’s very own Carrick.
Hailed as being a “powerhouse” for Fabian Hurzeler’s men by football content creator Ryan Adsett, he really could be United’s standout buy this summer over Sesko, Mbeumo, and Cunha, as the Red Devils attempt to become feared title-challengers once more.
