After their dismal Premier League season in 2024/25, it’s no surprise that Manchester United have spent big in the transfer window in an attempt to hand Ruben Amorim the tools for success.
The 40-year-old could only achieve a 15th-placed finish after taking the reins from Erik ten Hag in November, finally having the opportunity to make his own mark on the side this summer.
He’s taken action and cleared out the deadwood within the first team squad, before splashing over £130m on the additions of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha – arriving from Brentford and Wolves, respectively.
Benjamin Sesko could be another player to make the move to Old Trafford, after the 22-year-old agreed personal terms with the Red Devils after making a £74m bid for his services.
However, despite the prospect of the Slovenian making a move to link up with Cunha and Mbeumo, Amorim clearly wants more additions, making key moves in other areas of the pitch as a result.
The latest on United’s hunt for additions this summer
Douglas Luiz is a player who reemerged on United’s shortlist earlier this week, with the Juventus midfielder set to depart his current side before the end of the window.
The Brazilian is also on the radar of Everton and Nottingham Forest this summer, with the Serie A side demanding a permanent transfer rather than a loan move.
However, another midfielder has emerged on their shortlist in recent days, with Brighton and Hove Albion star Carlos Baleba a player in their sights, according to L’Equipe.
They claim that Liverpool and Arsenal are also interested in a move for the 21-year-old before the end of the window – which finishes on the 1st of September.
Despite the interest from elsewhere, the report claims that the Red Devils are currently the side in pole position for his signature, with a £100m transfer fee mooted – a figure that would be a club record.
Why United’s £100m target would be perfect for Bruno
Bruno Fernandes ended the most recent campaign with 38 combined goals and assists for United last season, by far and away the most in the first-team squad.
Such a tally undoubtedly pushed the side away from any relegation battle, whilst helping them reach the Europa League final – in which they fell at the final hurdle against Tottenham Hotspur.
The Portuguese international has been a consistent presence in the side since his arrival back in January 2020, making 290 appearances for the club, often featuring in an attacking midfield role.
However, he may struggle to feature in a deeper role next season, with Cunha and Mbeumo expected to operate in the number ten roles behind the striker.
He will subsequently have to feature as part of the central midfield department, potentially benefiting massively from the potential addition of Baleba in the next few weeks.
The Cameroonian would be the perfect ball-winning option that could allow the 30-year-old to still cause havoc with the ball at his feet within the attacking areas.
Baleba, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by one analyst, made 2.3 tackles per 90 last season, along with 1.4 interceptions – having the talent to break up the play at the heart of the side.
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How Baleba compares to Man Utd players for blocks made (2024/25) |
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|---|---|
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Player |
Tally (per 90) |
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1. Carlos Baleba |
1.6 |
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2. Matthijs de Ligt |
0.9 |
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3. Harry Maguire |
0.6 |
|
= Casemiro |
0.6 |
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4. Lisandro Martínez |
0.4 |
|
= Christian Eriksen |
0.4 |
|
5. Diogo Dalot |
0.3 |
|
= Noussair Mazraoui |
0.3 |
|
Stats via FotMob |
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However, he also thrived with the ball at his feet, completing 88% of the passes he attempted, with 3.7 of which being into the final third, allowing Bruno to be provided with the opportunity to impress once again in 2025/26.
His talent on the ball is further highlighted by his tally of 58% of take-ons completed, whilst also possessing an excellent long-range strike that saw him find the net on three occasions last time around.
Whilst £100m appears to be a mammoth sum of money for a player with just two years’ experience in England’s top-flight, it’s a signing that would massively bolster the options at Amorim’s disposal.
If he can thrive in and out of possession like he has at the AMEX, it would be the perfect signing for Bruno, who can still thrive despite dropping into a deeper role next campaign.
