Manchester United have made a significant breakthrough in their midfield rebuild, agreeing a deal worth an initial £65m for Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba. The 22-year-old holding player will undergo a medical in Manchester this weekend, pending the completion of the transfer.

With the signing of Baleba, Manchester United will have added their third midfielder in the window, following the arrivals of Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos. Both Tielemans and Santos are holding players, and their signings have strengthened the club’s midfield foundation.

According to reports, Baleba’s signing would make him Manchester United’s most expensive buy of the summer, surpassing the £35m spent on Tielemans and the initial £48m on Santos. The total spend on Baleba, including any potential add-ons, would take Manchester United’s summer transfer spend to £148m.

Privately, Manchester United are reportedly delighted with the deal, having failed to land Baleba last summer. Brighton had initially hoped to receive a price in the region of £115m, the amount they received for Moisés Caicedo’s transfer to Chelsea in 2023. However, Manchester United have managed to secure a deal that represents value on and off the pitch.

Speaking before the agreement was struck, Manchester United’s caretaker manager Michael Carrick highlighted the importance of a functioning midfield. ‘I think it gives you the foundation of the team, you know,’ Carrick said. ‘I think the foundation of the team is important to be consistent, to be consistent through one game from start to finish, to be consistent over a period of time.’

Carrick emphasized the need for a solid foundation in the middle of the team, citing the examples of top teams throughout history. ‘You need a solid foundation through the middle of the team and trying and putting it together and getting that balance,’ he said. ‘But certainly, I think if you look at all the top teams over the years, all the great teams over the years, the spine of the team is really strong, you know.’

Carrick expressed confidence in Manchester United’s current squad, stating that they have a good spine of the team right now. He emphasized the need for continuous improvement, through coaching and developing the players. ‘We can keep improving as we go in different ways and coaching and helping the boys and developing them, and I think we’re in a good place,’ he said.

Manchester United’s midfield rebuild is gathering pace, with the signing of Baleba set to further strengthen the club’s midfield foundation. The deal represents a significant investment in the team’s future, and it will be interesting to see how the signing of Baleba impacts Manchester United’s performance on the pitch.