Sky Sports Reporter: Man United considering move for Premier League star | OneFootball

Manchester United Weigh Carlos Baleba and Manu Kone as Midfield Search Sharpens

Manchester United are still shopping for midfield steel, which tells you two things straight away. First, adding Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos has not fully solved the issue. Second, the recruitment team clearly believe the side still lacks a player who can run, duel and impose himself physically in the middle of the pitch.

According to Sky Sports reporter Danyal Khan, Carlos Baleba and Manu Kone are now the two names under the strongest consideration as United look for a third midfield signing this summer. That is a sensible shortlist on paper. Both fit the broad profile, both bring energy, and both have enough quality on the ball to matter in a top side.

Carlos Baleba back on United radar

Baleba has been here before. United pushed hard last summer and even got agreement “on personal terms” with the Brighton midfielder, a detail that matters because it removes one layer of complication if they go again. What stopped the deal then was Brighton’s £100 million valuation, which was excessive then and still looks excessive now unless the market has completely lost its grip.

Sky Sports reporter Danyal Khan states that United have “made movement” in revisiting Baleba, though there has been no formal club-to-club approach yet. That usually means interest is real, but the numbers are still being tested in the background. Baleba, at 22, gives you power, ball carrying and a capacity to drive the team up the pitch. Those are not luxuries for United, they are necessities.

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Manu Kone offers cheaper route

Kone looks like the more attainable option. United have also “tentatively explored move” for the Roma midfielder, who is expected to cost less than Baleba. Reports from Italy suggest there is already an agreement in principle with the player, while United may be prepared to go to around €50 million, which is £42m.

The problem is predictable. Roma want more, and other clubs are in the race. That means United either move decisively or accept they are entering another negotiation where the price climbs with every passing week.

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Midfield recruitment says plenty

What stands out is the type of player being targeted. United are not simply collecting names, they are trying to correct a tactical weakness. They want legs, presence and someone who can win territory. Baleba may be the premium answer. Kone may be the practical one. Either way, this is a move that feels necessary rather than optional.

Our View

This report lands somewhere between encouraging and familiar. Encouraging, because at least the club seem to understand what the midfield actually needs. Familiar, because this still sounds like another summer of interest, movement, exploration and background talks rather than swift, hard execution.

Baleba makes sense as a footballer. He is young, powerful and already proven in the Premier League. The issue is obvious. Brighton do not sell cheap, and when United show up, the price usually goes up again. Paying anywhere near £100 million for a midfielder, however talented, would feel like the sort of decision this club has spent years regretting.

Kone is easier to understand financially, but that does not automatically make him the right deal either. If Roma want more than £42m and several clubs are circling, United could easily end up overpaying there too. This is the trap. Identify a real need, then solve it badly because the process drags on.

The biggest concern is that United have already signed two midfielders and still do not look settled. That can mean ambition. It can also mean the planning was incomplete from the start. Supporters have seen enough windows to know that buying numbers is not the same as building a balanced side. Until one of these deals is actually done, and done at a sensible price, caution feels like the sensible reaction.