Why Man Utd now need to sign a £100m “beast”.

Manchester United have not been a Premier League club for a long time now. Inconsistency and many changes in the dugout have moved Old Trafford away from football that dominates football.

You would have to go back to 2016/17, with Jose Mourinho in charge, to find a Man United team that finished the campaign with a management average of over 56% (56.5%), and even then, they ranked fifth in that table.

Equating football with success would be foolish – Michael Carrick boasts an average of 48.1% in his managerial career with Man United, but there is no doubt that the Red Devils need to play with more control next season, to consolidate the place they have carved out for themselves in Carrick's system.

United are not targeting midfield maestro this summer, and that makes a strong comment on the INEOS strategy, but new midfielders are still needed, even with Andrey Santos already signed from Chelsea.

Why Man United swooped to sign Andrey Santos

Santos is one of the most exciting young midfielders in the Premier League, with commentator Ben Mattinson saying he has “everything you want in a central midfielder”.

Of course, expectation and application are two different things, and the Brazilian, 23 years old, was highly recommended to cheat with Chelsea last season after his special loan in France with Strasbourg, managed by Liam Rosenior.

United have signed a budding star who could be a star, but he hasn't arrived yet. Carrick will need an experienced and successful top six to play with Kobbie Mainoo and coach Santos as he rises up front.

Ederson was supposed to be that man, but the Atalanta midfielder's contract has expired. INEOS should dust itself off and get going again; there is no time to waste.

United will need to find another way, but they are putting their foundations together this summer and have identified an exciting back-to-back.

Man United are ready to pay for Ederson's alternative

Manchester United are in talks to sign Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa, and the deal is close to being finalised. The 29-year-old is a skilled and experienced midfielder, and his metronomic passing ability could be the perfect tool for Carrick to use and create slick passing patterns.

But the Tielemans are probably not enough on their own. Casemiro is gone, and Manuel Ugarte will be sidelined for a long time after injuring his knee against Uruguay in the World Cup.

However, according to Football Insider, Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba's contract could be renewed now that Ederson has joined.

Baleba hasn't enjoyed the strongest of seasons in the Premier League, so the Seagulls will have to drop their £100m price tag for the Red Devils to progress, but it's understood United could make a move if they are given a boost from the south coast side.

Personal terms were agreed with this player last year, so it is clear that he is determined to leave.

Journalist Eduardo Hagn has hailed him as a “beast” of midfield talent, and while the 2025/26 campaign has been somewhat unkind to the Cameroonian, he is still someone who can make a world of difference.

Throughout the 2024/25 season, he was a physical and steely force in the middle of the park, winning numerous challenges and carrying the ball forward with purpose and precision.

Baleba, like Santos, did not perform at a high level last season, but that does not mean that he could not make a big impact at Old Trafford next year. The key point of difference is that the Brighton midfielder who has performed well has played at a high level in the past in the Premier League, while Santos is still fighting to take this big step to help his development.

United progressed under Carrick last season, but more is needed if they are to consolidate their position as Champions League contenders and begin closing the gap on the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City ahead of them.

A strong and skilled shooter like Baleba can hold the key. He shares many similarities with Santos, but likes to go forward more than playing a box-to-box role. He's probably not very accessible to the passerby, but then that's not his wheel.

Considering the fact that Baleba has progressed in the Premier League in the past, it is clear that United should insist on signing the Brighton player this summer, not only to get a bigger talent than Santos, but to sign a midfielder who could be one of the best players in Europe.

INEOS is clearly working hard to restore the Theater of Dreams to its former pedigree, and if it can get a deal with Baleba down the line, it will take a significant step forward.