Carlos Baleba: Tottenham ready to strike for Man United target | OneFootball

Manchester United risk allowing Tottenham Hotspur to steal a march on them for Carlos Baleba as Roberto De Zerbi plots a reunion with the 22-year-old enforcer, according to a new report.

Theatre of Dreams

The Red Devils made advances to sign Baleba last year as INEOS looked to provide Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim with a high-energy midfielder to better implement his 3-4-2-1 system, which demands huge levels of output from its double pivot in the middle. Brighton & Hove Albion refused to enter talks for the Cameroon international, however, with a sense that it would have taken a mammoth fee — in excess of £100 million — to bring them to the negotiating table.

Baleba was said to be disappointed by this stance as he had agreed personal terms with United and considered Old Trafford a ‘dream’ destination. His performance levels have dipped significantly this season, with many theorising the failed move is the reason.

Despite Amorim being dismissed in January, United’s recruitment team have maintained interest in the former LOSC Lille star, though their valuation of him has dropped in line with his downturn in form.

The agreement with Baleba is understood to still be in place and sources indicate he would “jump at the move” if it materialises again this summer. There were even suggestions of a plan to make the signing before the World Cup commences next month.

However, United are now said to be focusing on other targets, perhaps driven by the sense they could reignite a deal at any point given the player’s desire to wear a red shirt — but Tottenham, United’s are ready to test this belief.

Spurs ready to strike

The Independent reveals the North London club are plotting a “triple raid” on the Amex Stadium, at the request of De Zerbi, for Baleba, Bart Verbruggen and Jan Paul Van Hecke.

The Italian, who was strongly linked with the United job in the wake of Amorim’s dismissal, was manager of the Seagulls for two years before leaving to join Ligue 1 side Marseille.

He is understood to have placed a reunion with the trio at the “top of his transfer targets” for the summer, though there is an “acceptance [Spurs] may not get all of those”.

The report states a move for “Baleba is likely to prove the trickiest, given that Brighton want over £100m, and there is competition from Manchester United.”

Final Thoughts

If the demands for the Cameroonian remain as high as nine figures, however, Tottenham will have free run as United will have zero interest in pursuing a deal, even if his profile makes him an ideal partner to Kobbie Mainoo.

The Red Devils are already in advanced talks to sign Atalanta dynamo Ederson, while a blockbuster raid for Newcastle maestro Sandro Tonali continues to gather pace.

Featured image Mike Hewitt via Getty Images

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