How Manchester United can line up with Carlos Baleba after £65m transfer | OneFootball

Michael Carrick to have welcome selection headache with key transfer target incoming

Manchester United are closing in on the £65million signing of Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba.

Standard Sport understands that United are in active negotiations to bring the 22-year-old to Old Trafford.

Baleba would become the fourth signing of the summer for Michael Carrick’s side, following the arrivals of Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans and Karl Darlow.

He would also be the third midfielder through the doors at United after Santos and Tielemans, with Carrick overhauling his options in the middle of the park.

Should Baleba complete his long-awaited move to United, then Carrick will have a decision to make about who will play in the double pivot behind Bruno Fernandes.

The Cameroonian international is currently managing an ankle injury and is not expected to be fit until the end of September.

However, with Kobbie Mainoo, Tielemans and Santos already vying for minutes in midfield, Carrick will be spoilt for choice once Baleba is back fit.

The expectation would be that Baleba would start alongside the experienced Tielemans. But there is also the question of where Mason Mount fits into the team after an impressive pre-season.

Mount was arguably the standout player for United in the first few games of pre-season and struck up a productive relationship with Santos.

Injuries, though, appear to have stalled his progress once again, and he was absent from training this week.

Mainoo is another player who looked set for a fresh start under Carrick. But Baleba’s arrival would provide yet more competition for the 21-year-old, and it is unclear if his future lies at United.

The likelihood is that Santos would provide cover for Baleba, with Mainoo viewed as a slightly more dynamic option to Tielemans in the No8 position, who could impact games late on.

Mount’s place in the squad is less clear, but his versatility means he could get minutes out wide or in place of Fernandes, as well as being able to play slightly deeper as a replacement for Tielemans.

Manuel Ugarte, meanwhile, is expected to be out for an extended period of time following knee surgery.

Upon his return, the Uruguayan would provide cover for Baleba as the more defensively minded of the two midfielders in the pivot.

United start their Premier League campaign away to Hull City on Saturday as they embark on their first full season under Carrick.