How Carlos Baleba Could Unlock Man Utd's Most Lethal Midfield Lineup

Just as Manchester United fans were beginning to grow anxious, David Ornstein delivered the bombshell they had been anticipating.

The imminent signing of Carlos Baleba is set to complete the club's midfield overhaul, satisfying Michael Carrick's recent call for additional summer reinforcements.

United had already brought in Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos from Premier League sides Aston Villa and Chelsea, respectively, to begin the rebuild, offsetting Casemiro's exit and Manuel Ugarte's serious knee injury.

However, Carrick will now feel the midfield balance has been properly addressed with the addition of Baleba, whose declining value over the past year allowed them to strike an $88.5 million deal with Brighton & Hove Albion. The 22-year-old had previously carried a $135 million price tag from the Seagulls amid reported interest from the Red Devils.

Here's what United's best possible midfield looks like with Baleba included.

Man Utd's Strongest Midfield With Carlos Baleba

A dramatic tactical overhaul from Carrick at the start of his first complete season at the helm seems unlikely. His deployment of a 4-2-3-1 system, which allowed Bruno Fernandes to operate as close to the striker as he wished, unlocked the Portuguese as a creative force and helped him claim the Premier League's single-season assist record.

Fernandes registered 13 assists across the 17 league games Carrick managed last season, pushing his total to 21 — surpassing the joint-record previously held by Thierry Henry and equalled by Kevin De Bruyne.

Despite a relatively subdued World Cup and preseason, Fernandes is expected to hold onto his No. 10 position. His remarkable ability to stay fit means he will likely feature in the majority of Premier League and Champions League fixtures as well.

Competition for the two pivot spots in Carrick's system has suddenly intensified. Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo were given little rest down the final stretch last term, but the latter now faces a tough battle for minutes against United's three new arrivals.

In Youri Tielemans, United have secured a technically gifted midfielder who will bring composure in possession and contribute alongside Fernandes in the creative phase. The Belgian has the quality needed to break down deep-sitting defenses.

Some might contend that Andrey Santos is a more well-rounded player than Baleba, but the 22-year-old's exceptional mobility could make him the ideal partner for Tielemans, who is not particularly strong when it comes to defensive recovery.

Carlos Baleba also provides the ball-carrying ability that Tielemans lacks. While Santos may represent the more reliable midfield choice — particularly following the Cameroonian's underwhelming 2025–26 campaign — if Carrick can help Baleba recapture the dynamic form he showed in 2024–25, when he ranked among the Premier League's finest midfielders, there is little question he earns a place in United's strongest lineup.

Thanks to his exceptional athleticism, Baleba is far more than just a defensive transition player. He is also sharp in counter-pressing situations and would be a tremendous asset to any side looking to regain possession in advanced areas of the pitch.

Who Are The Other Options in Man Utd's Midfield?

Fans declared him "liberated" when Ruben Amorim departed Manchester at the beginning of the year, and Michael Carrick wasted no time capitalizing on Kobbie Mainoo's renewed freedom.

The then-interim boss described the Englishman as someone who "epitomizes this football club" after he put pen to paper on a new contract running until 2031 with the Red Devils in April. A strong finish to the campaign — during which he started all but one of United's 17 matches under Carrick — earned him a place in Thomas Tuchel's World Cup squad.

However, Mainoo returned to Carrington without having played a single minute on North American soil, and an extended post-tournament rest period meant he was absent from all of the club's preseason matches.

As a result, it would be reasonable to assume he currently sits behind Santos and Tielemans in United's midfield pecking order heading into the new campaign. The two new recruits have already been integrated into Carrick's setup and started together in the 4–2 loss to AC Milan.

Mason Mount will also be looking to establish a role, with his positional flexibility making him an attractive option for the manager. Matheus Cunha is similarly capable of playing as a No. 10, though he will primarily operate from the left wing with the freedom to cut inside.