Carlos Baleba to Manchester United: How Red Devils could line up?
United are closing in on signing the Cameroonian midfielder.
Manchester United are ‘closing in’ on a deal for Brighton player Carlos Baleba as their midfield rebuilding efforts continue.
The Red Devils have already signed Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos from Aston Villa and Chelsea, respectively, this window. But manager Michael Carrick was keen to bring in a third midfielder to replace Casemiro and complete the ongoing rebuild.
It looks like his wish is about to be realised. According to The Athletic, United are close to finalising a deal to capture Brighton star Baleba, having bid £60 million for the Cameroonian, plus £5 million in add-ons.
That is believed to fall below the Seagulls’ value, while conversations between the two teams are underway, with a deal expected to be reached.
But it is also important to remember that Carlos Baleba suffered a pre-season ankle ligament injury that is not as severe as initially feared, with the Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder expected to return to full fitness in September.
If United manages to land the midfielder they have been pursuing for over a year, how will they line up with him playing in the middle of the pitch?
How can Manchester United line up with Carlos Baleba?
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Integrating Carlos Baleba into Manchester United’s dynamic tactical framework provides an athletic, high-energy midfield core.
A balanced 4-2-3-1 formation puts his ball-winning and devastating carrying ability beside a creative technician. To protect the backline, he brings physical dominance, quick recovery times, and explosive ball-winning abilities.
Meanwhile, Youri Tielemans is anticipated to partner with Baleba, offering calmness, press resistance, and crisp distribution in addition to Baleba’s athletic ability.
Bruno Fernandes will be operating as an attacking midfielder; Cunha and Mbeumo will operate on either wing, with Benjamin Sesko playing as the centre-forward.
Manchester United line-up with Carlos Baleba
4-2-3-1: Lammens; Dalot, Yoro, Martinez, Shaw; Baleba, Tielemans; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha; Sesko
Which position does Carlos Baleba play?
He can play as a defensive and central midfielder.
Who could play alongside Baleba in the midfield?
Youri Tielemans is likely to play alongside him in the midfield.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.