Ferdinand: Manchester United needs to introduce this Premier League midfielder

Under Ruben Amorin, Manchester United showed a positive start in the preseason stage. However, the Portuguese coach also clearly realized that if the team wants to be competitive in the Premier League and pursue a championship title, the current lineup still has a lot of room for improvement.

Ferdinand suggested that Manchester United sign Baleba with all their might

Former Manchester United centreback Rio Ferdinand recently called on his personal YouTube channel to the club to go all out to introduce Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba. Ferdinand said: "I think there is a name that is very suitable for Manchester United's needs. A player who is in line with the Amorin style - excellent physique, able to dribble and handle the ball in any area, strong tactical awareness, full of vitality, strong feet, and has proved his strength in the Premier League. This person is Baleba. I will sign him immediately, at all costs."

Baleba: Brighton's key player

In recent years, Baleba has become an indispensable member of Brighton's midfield. The young Cameroonian player impressed with his outstanding interception skills, ball-handling skills and offensive initiation. From an unknown rookie, Baleba quickly grew into a "new star" in the Brighton system, where excellent players like Moises Kessetdo and McAllister were trained. Manchester United faces high transfer fee challenges, currently Baleba's market valuation is between 80 million and 100 million pounds, a fee that could make United very cautious, especially as they have spent nearly £140 million this summer for players such as Mattus Cunya and Brian Mbemu. In addition, financial restrictions brought about by the Financial Fair Competition Rules (FFP) need to be taken into account.

Nevertheless, Ferdinand's suggestion is not unreasonable. Baleba has many characteristics that conform to Amorin’s tactical philosophy, including a midfielder with strong mobility, high pressure pressing and quick handling of the ball in a small space. However, the possibility of signing Baleba directly in the summer of 2025 seems to be slim unless Manchester United is willing to "major" or Brighton changes its attitude towards selling players.

If the deal cannot be completed immediately, the Red Devils can continue to observe Baleba's performance in the following season and then make more in-depth considerations during the 2026 summer transfer window. At that time, both financial situation and team lineup planning may be more favorable.

Carlos Baleba as a modern midfielder is undoubtedly a goal worthy of Manchester United's pursuit, even if it could be a rather expensive dream.