Carlos Baleba’s potential arrival at Manchester United would be a huge statement for the Ineos regime in the post-Richard Arnold and John Murtough era of the club.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s team has been in control of football operations at Old Trafford since 2024 after the Ineos chief became Manchester United co-owner.
Richard Arnold had stepped down as Man Utd chief executive officer in 2023 after he previously replaced Ed Woodward in the role at the Premier League club in 2022.
John Murtough, on the other hand, had served as football director at Old Trafford under Arnold until the former United figure left the Red Devils in 2024.
Ineos are not giving ‘sticking plaster’ treatment to Man Utd’s midfield as John Murtough and Richard Arnold did
Manchester United’s acquisition of Carlos Baleba — if and when it happens — would mark the third major midfield signing to arrive in one summer transfer window.
Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos arrived at Old Trafford from Aston Villa and Chelsea respectively, as the Red Devils midfield is undergoing a major rebuild.
Ineos made three midfield signings since Sir Jim Ratcliffe became a minority co-owner at United, with Manuel Ugarte arriving during the 2024 summer window.
- Manuel Ugarte (2024): Paris Saint-Germain — £42.3m initial fee (£8.5m in add-ons)
- Andrey Santos (2026): Chelsea — £48m initial fee (£2m in add-ons)
- Youri Tielemans (2026): Aston Villa — £35m (release clause fee)
- Carlos Baleba* (2026): Brighton & Hove Albion — subject to £60million bid (£5m in add-ons)
The signing of Baleba would show that Ineos have made more permanent midfield signing acquisitions than Richard Arnold and John Murtough did together.
During Arnold’s tenure from 2022 to 2023 as Man Utd CEO, his dynamic with former Red Devils football director Murtough saw the arrival of three midfield signings.
Both Arnold and Murtough only paid for the signings of Casemiro and Mason Mount, while Christian Eriksen arrived under Erik ten Hag as a free transfer in 2022.
- Christian Eriksen (2022): free transfer
- Casemiro (2022): Real Madrid — £60m initial fee (£10m in add-ons)
- Mason Mount (2023): Chelsea — £55m initial fee (£5m in add-ons)
Instead of investing in midfield stability outside of an ageing Christian Eriksen and Casemiro and an injured Mason Mount, the Red Devils saw plasters all over the midfield cracks.
Marcel Sabitzer offered a short-term solution in January 2023 after he was signed on loan, while Sofyan Amrabat arrived on a season-long loan for United in the summer.
Baleba’s move to United would signal that Ineos’ direction and vision are head and shoulders above the shortcomings of the Arnold and Murtough dynamic at United.
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/PzANwxo