The new Pogba: INEOS holding Man Utd talks to sign £100m “beast”
A midfield revolution is coming at Manchester United. The Red Devils need more bodies in the middle of the park, especially if Ruben Amorim decides to stick with the 4-3-3 formation he deployed for 45 minutes against Newcastle United.
Either way, there is a clear need to add more options in midfield. Kobbie Mainoo’s immediate future is still up in the air, and Manuel Ugarte has not shown the levels required to play at the highest level for United.
Casemiro has yet to sign a one-year contract extension, which Amoirm confirmed in a press conference last week.
When United do inevitably sign a midfielder, it seems as though they will come from within the Premier League.
United want to sign Premier League midfielder
There are already some strong links which suggest United will spend a lot of money on a new midfielder. Two of those reports name England midfield duo Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton as potential targets for the Red Devils.
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However, a new report from the highly regarded Fabrizio Romano has once again linked United to Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba.
The journalist, speaking on his Youtube channel, said that “internal talks at the club have not stopped discussing” a move for the Cameroonian star, who has been an INEOS target since the summer.
Romano explains that the Red Devils “remain in contact with people close to the player,” suggesting INEOS will pounce as soon as a move becomes a real possibility.
Of course, this deal wouldn’t be cheap, with United needing to break their transfer record and spend £100m to sign Baleba.
Why Baleba could be the next Pogba
21-year-old Baleba’s quality in midfield is undeniable. He has struggled for consistency this term on the South Coast, but is still an excellent player at his best, described as a “beast” in midfield by football scout Antonio Mango.
Indeed, this season has been a tougher one under Fabian Hurzeler. The Brighton manager has only given Baleba a full 90 minutes in the Premier League once, with the midfielder playing 903 minutes across 16 games.
Don’t let the fact that he hasn’t played as much this term deceive you, though. His importance and quality were highlighted in the 2024/25 campaign, as he made 34 Premier League appearances and played 90 minutes in 17 of them.
He also scored three goals, including this stunning hit against West Ham United.
His numbers from last term are also impressive.
The former Lille player showed his quality on the ball, averaging 1.2 take-ons per 90 minutes, and also how destructive he is without possession, making 6.7 ball recoveries each game.
Baleba key stats in 24/25 PL
Stat
Per 90 mins
Season total
Forward passes
10
296
Take-ons completed
1.2
33
Duels won
6.8
199
Interceptions
1.6
46
Ball recoveries
6.7
197
Stats from Squawka
If United are to sign Baleba, it will smash their transfer record, which is currently the £89m fee they spent on Paul Pogba back in 2016.
Of course, the Frenchman had moments of magic at United despite struggling with injuries throughout his stint at the club.
In that second spell at Old Trafford, the Carrington graduate made 226 appearances for the club. He scored 39 times and assisted 51, helping the club win the Europa League and the Carabao Cup.
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He was one of the finest midfielders around, largely thanks to his incredible technical ability.
Interestingly, Baleba has previously identified the 2018 World Cup winner as his “number one” idol growing up. The similarities go further than two players who would be United’s record signing, though.
The pair are both powerful ball carriers in midfield, able to collect the ball in deeper areas and progress it through the lines. As he showed last season, the Cameroonian star has an eye for a spectacular goal, like Pogba has done so often across his career.
There is no doubt that £100m is a huge investment for INEOS and United. However, they are looking to refresh their midfield, and Baleba could be the perfect option to help Amorim’s side in this revolution.
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