Manchester United are planning to spend big in midfield this summer. According to reports published over the weekend, the club's recruitment team has been given a budget of up to £150m to reshape a department that Michael Carrick has identified as the most important area of the squad to address. The frontrunner for the marquee signing is Carlos Baleba of Brighton, a 21-year-old Cameroonian defensive midfielder whose ball-winning ability and athleticism have made him one of the most watched players in the Premier League this season. United have been tracking him for months.
Why Baleba makes sense for Carrick's system
Carrick's United press high and win the ball back quickly — Baleba fits that profile almost perfectly. He leads Brighton in ball recoveries this season, covers ground at a rate that puts him in the top five midfielders in the league, and he can carry the ball forward without being reckless. At 21, he also has the profile United want: young enough to develop over the next decade, experienced enough to contribute immediately. Brighton are not a selling club by nature, but they have a track record of letting players move on when the fee is right. The figure being discussed is between £55m and £65m.
Who else is on United's midfield list
Baleba is not the only name. Martin Zubimendi of Real Sociedad has been on United's radar for two transfer windows now and remains a genuine target, although his preference for staying in Spain is a complicating factor. Manu Kone at Borussia Monchengladbach is cheaper and more attainable. The club have also looked at Youssouf Fofana, now at AC Milan but rumoured to be available if the price is right. United's ideal outcome is landing Baleba as the first purchase, then using the remaining budget to add depth at the position rather than pursuing a second marquee signing.
Can United actually spend £150m in one window?
That is the question that matters most. United's finances have been under serious scrutiny for two years. The INEOS ownership has been careful with spending and has not handed managers blank cheques. What makes this summer different is Champions League revenue arriving next season, which gives Carrick leverage to argue for a meaningful investment now rather than phased spending over multiple windows. Whether the board agrees — and whether the Glazer minority stake complicates things — will determine how much of that £150m budget actually gets deployed. The ambition is real. Whether the execution matches it is a different matter.
Transfer targets: Carlos Baleba (Brighton) — primary target, valued £55m-£65m. Also tracked: Martin Zubimendi (Real Sociedad), Manu Kone (Borussia Monchengladbach), Youssouf Fofana (AC Milan). Manchester United midfield budget: up to £150m. Manager: Michael Carrick.
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