Man Utd targeting “complete” £42m Baleba alternative

Forwards signed? Tick. Striker in the door? Tick. What’s next on Manchester United’s summer shopping list?

Well, if reports are to be believed, Ruben Amorim – having already overseen a £214m outlay – is keen to bring an athletic midfielder and a new goalkeeper into the fold, having so far only bolstered his ranks at the top end of the pitch.

There is a touch of the Adrien Rabiot regarding links to Paris Saint-Germain stopper, Gianluigi Donnarumma, although ESPN have reported that United are among the clubs who are expected to make an offer for the towering Italian, with less than a year to run on his existing deal.

With the former AC Milan man emerging as a leading contender to replace Andre Onana, a standout midfield target has also since been revealed, with reports earlier this week outlining that the Red Devils have made contact regarding Brighton and Hove Albion sensation, Carlos Baleba.

The 21-year-old – who is reportedly valued at over £104m by the Seagulls – certainly won’t come cheap, however, with the Old Trafford side wise to be seeking out potential alternatives.

Man Utd eyeing Carlos Baleba alternative

Excluding prior links to former Aston Villa man, Douglas Luiz, it had been rather quiet regarding United’s concrete midfield targets this summer, with full focus seemingly placed in the search for a striker.

Well, that all changed this week as the news broke that United are interested in trying to do a deal for Baleba, having only just wrapped up the £74m signing of RB Leipzig’s Slovenian sensation, Benjamin Sesko.

Unsurprisingly, Brighton are not set to allow the Cameroonian starlet to depart without a fight, with the south coast side more inclined to sanction an exit next summer, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

With that in mind, transfer insider Graeme Bailey has revealed that those at Old Trafford are also eyeing up alternatives to the former Lille man, with Sporting CP’s Morten Hjulmand believed to be among them.

As per Bailey, Amorim is said to be keen to reunite with ‘trusted figures’ as he looks to get his 3-4-3 system up and running, with Hjulmand having thrived in Lisbon after being signed from Lecce by the Portuguese coach in the summer of 2023.

Reportedly valued at around £42m, the Dane could well be an astute addition to Amorim’s side, representing the perfect partner for another man with Sporting ties, Bruno Fernandes.

Why Morten Hjulmand could thrive at Man Utd

While Amorim might want to steer clear of Erik ten Hag’s policy of signing his former assets – with the new Bayer Leverkusen boss having repeatedly dipped into the phonebook during his time at the helm – adding in at least one familiar face surely wouldn’t be too much of a gamble.

Of course, the 40-year-old has already seen his ex-Sporting talisman, Viktor Gyokeres, head on over to Arsenal, although Hjulmand would offer the chance to acquire another of his trusted lieutenants in what is a key area of the pitch.

Although things are beginning to take shape in the backline and the frontline, there are problems to be solved regarding the centre of the park, with a suitable partner for that man Fernandes yet to be found.

The hope was that the arrival of Amorim would spark Manuel Ugarte into life, with the pair having also worked together back in Lisbon, although on recent evidence, the Uruguayan shuttler has yet to convince.

Having been an unused substitute in the Europa League final defeat, the 24-year-old has also endured a sticky summer on pre-season duty, having notably been well below par in the 2-2 draw with Everton last week. Indeed, as MEN’s Samuel Luckhurst noted, he was simply ‘dominated’ by the Toffees’ midfield.

There might be concerns regarding the capture of a player who actually replaced Ugarte at Sporting, although as journalist Zach Lowy has pointed out, Hjulmand is an “absolute monster” in regaining possession, albeit while “far less reckless than Ugarte ever was”.

Also described as the “complete midfielder” by all-seeing analyst Ben Mattinson, Hjulmand’s destructive midfield presence would be perfect to allow Fernandes’ attacking talents to shine. That quality was evident last season, as the £42m man averaged 2.9 tackles and interceptions per game in the Primeira Liga, while also averaging 5.7 balls recovered per game.

There is silk to match the steel, however, with Hjulmand ranking in the top 1% in the league for pass completion, as well as in the top 13% for progressive passes, as per FBref, at an average of 6.38 per 90. Ugarte, for comparison, averaged just 3.08 for that latter metric in the Premier League in 2024/25.

Having a figure who can be an asset both in and out of possession alongside him would be a real bonus for Fernandes, with the division’s chief creator thus provided the freedom to wreak havoc in the final third.

Of course, there is excitement brewing over the enhancements that have been made at the top end of the pitch, although for all that fresh lick of paint, the Red Devils need to ensure that the engine is also running smoothly.