There’s a huge buzz of excitement at Manchester United football club at the moment, and understandably so, given the backing shown by the hierarchy this summer.
The board have already completed the big-money additions of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, but the attack looks set to have landed another talent during the recent overhaul.
Striker Benjamin Sesko has flown to Manchester for his medical, after he rejected Newcastle United in favour of a £74m switch to Old Trafford ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
The trio will add 48 combined goals to the side, that’s based on their league figures from last season, a tally that is four more than the rest of the Red Devils squad managed in the Premier League in 2024/25.
However, now attention must turn to other areas of the pitch if Ruben Amorim is to have the best chance of leading the side back up England’s top-flight next season.
The latest on United’s hunt for new midfielders this summer
Carlos Baleba has emerged as a surprise option for United this summer, after the club’s hierarchy made an approach to land the Brighton and Hove Albion star.
Any deal for the Cameroonian international would be yet another huge investment, with Fabian Hurzeler’s side currently demanding a fee in the region of £100m for the 21-year-old.
However, other options are currently being considered by higher-ups at Old Trafford, leading to Javi Guerra being named as a target once again by TBR Football.
Their latest report claims that the Valencia star remains keen on a move to join Amorim’s side this summer, after previously making their interest known during the summer window.
It also states that the 22-year-old could be available for as little as £25m during this window, with Carlos Corberan’s side needing to raise funds due to their current financial situation.
Why United’s £25m target would be a better signing than Baleba
Over the last couple of months, Brighton star Baleba has been one of the standout talents in the Premier League – with his mammoth price tag no surprise given their previous dealings.
He was brought in from Lille back in 2023 as a replacement for Moises Caicedo, after the Ecuadorian star completed his own £115m move to Chelsea.
Such a move to the AMEX has allowed the youngster to take his career to the next level, featuring in 34 league outings last season as the Seagulls finished the season in 8th place.
His two-year experience in England’s top division would be a massive asset to any move to Old Trafford, but there’s no denying that his current price tag has been put in place to fend off interest.
Undoubtedly, there are cheaper and more effective options out there, with Guerra potentially providing just that for United between now and the closure of the window on September 1st.
When comparing his stats to those of Baleba from the most recent campaign, the Spaniard has managed to outperform him in numerous areas, potentially being a just as effective option for the Red Devils.
Guerra, who’s been dubbed “special” by analyst Ben Mattinson, is much more comfortable in possession, completing more progressive passes per 90, with more of which being made into the final third – aiding the new trio with chances to impress at Old Trafford.
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How Guerra & Baleba compared throughout 2024/25 |
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|---|---|---|
|
Statistics (per 90) |
Guerra |
Baleba |
|
Games played |
36 |
34 |
|
Goals & assists |
6 |
4 |
|
Progressive passes |
4.8 |
3.9 |
|
Progressive carries |
1.8 |
1.4 |
|
Passes into final third |
4.2 |
3.6 |
|
Interceptions made |
1.7 |
1.5 |
|
Clearances made |
1.7 |
1.4 |
|
Recoveries made |
6.8 |
6.6 |
|
Stats via FBref |
||
However, he’s also showcased his excellent tallies without the ball, completing more interceptions and making more clearances per 90, able to hand Amorim the deep-lying defensive option he’s hunting for as a result.
The youngster’s dominance over the Cameroonian is further shown in his tally of recoveries made per 90, able to get himself into better defensive positions per 90 – arguably being a more well-rounded option for the Red Devils.
Guerra has constantly shown in LaLiga in recent months that he’s a huge talent with bags of time to improve further on his impressive start to his professional career.
His ability to outperform Baleba further indicates how impressive he’s been, allowing United to land a better talent at a fraction of the price in their hunt for a return to their former glory.
