Man Utd have signed one of the Premier League's best midfielders – there's just one problem

After spending last summer building a new front line, Manchester United have made it clear where their focus now lies. Carlos Baleba became their third midfield addition of the window on Tuesday, following Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans.

Cameroon midfielder Baleba has joined in a deal worth up to £70million. It's a significant climb-down from former club Brighton, who wanted north of £100m when United were among the interested parties in the summer of 2025.

Those demands were based on a number of factors, including Baleba's form for the Seagulls and the sum the club received when Moises Caicedo left for Chelsea. However, an underwhelming 2025/26 season still makes it something of a gamble and helps explain the reduced fee.

From United's perspective, though, it's easy to see why they consider it a gamble worth taking. Baleba, at his best, can provide balance in the midfield and allow them to set up in a number of systems.

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