Manchester United have had a solid summer transfer window, giving Ruben Amorim the best possible chance to build a winning project at Old Trafford. The club also managed to move on players who are no longer in the Portuguese tactician’s plans.
Early results this season increased the pressure on Amorim, but the recent win over Burnley just before the international break should give him some breathing room. Although the style of football has improved significantly, it counts for nothing without results.
One player Manchester United tried to sign during the summer was Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba. However, the interest never materialised into an actual bid, and the saga fizzled out like a damp squib.
Now, according to Team Talk, Manchester United have not given up hope of signing the Cameroonian midfielder. Amorim still dreams of adding him to the squad in the upcoming transfer windows, and it would not be a surprise to see the Red Devils revisit their interest.
The £650,000-a-year star has been a mainstay of Fabian Hurzeler’s plans since the German manager took over the Seagulls. He has impressed with his intense work rate, pressing, and defensive quality in midfield.
In a system like the one Amorim deploys at Manchester United, which technically has only two pure midfielders, having a player like Baleba, with the work rate he brings to the table, is the equivalent of having two players in one.
At present, Amorim’s first-choice midfield pair has been Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro, and although the Brazilian veteran has started the new season in promising form, his age means he might not be able to play 90 minutes in every game.
With every passing day, it is clear that Baleba is a priority target for Amorim. Whether he is on the Old Trafford touchline in January or next summer to see it materialise remains to be seen.
