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Manchester United appear to be prioritising strengthening their goalkeeping department in the final hours of the transfer window, having already revamped their attack.
At one point in the summer, United seemed ready to splash a considerable fee to improve their midfield. Carlos Baleba emerged as Ruben Amorim’s dream target, leading to the Red Devils holding talks with his representatives and Brighton & Hove Albion.
The Seagulls poured cold water on their plans by pricing them out of an immediate move for Baleba. As per multiple reports, Brighton view Baleba on a par with Moises Caicedo, who cost Chelsea over £100m.
The development left many United fans disappointed, but Brighton’s stance may have helped Amorim’s side avoid an expensive bullet.
Why Manchester United set their sights on Baleba
The ex-Sporting CP tactician mainly relies on his back three and wing-backs to handle build-up and progress the ball higher up the field. As such, the two midfielders in the system are typically expected to have fewer touches, and they are mostly called into action when the side are out of possession.
Accordingly, United targeted Baleba, who has the engine to roam across the pitch, plays on the front foot and is aggressive in his challenges. With the ball at his feet, the Cameroonian keeps things simple and rarely plays line-breaking passes.
In an ideal Amorim midfield, Baleba’s profile makes sense. However, the presence of Bruno Fernandes in the double pivot means United’s potential record spending on the Brighton gem would have done little to address the glaring issues plaguing Amorim’s reign.
The big Bruno problem
In Fernandes, Amorim has a midfielder capable of playing quickly and creating openings with limited touches. However, the Portuguese maestro’s Hollywood approach often leaves United’s two-man midfield in trouble.
He could afford to be adventurous and lose the ball as a number 10, but United are often left outnumbered and vulnerable when he does the same playing deeper. Unfortunately for the team, Fernandes is incapable of changing gears.
United usually defend in a 5-2-3 shape. While this ensures there are a lot of bodies in the defensive line, the shape allows attacking team to have a midfielder or two free on the edge of the box.
Fernandes lacks the defensive nous to spot such dangers, leaving the backline vulnerable against late runs, as seen during Fulham’s equalising goal.
Why Man United should look elsewhere
It is fair to assume the United skipper is undroppable despite his follies. As such, the current iteration of United’s midfield is crying out for a controller rather than a workhorse like Baleba.
To complement Fernandes, United need a midfielder who can slow things down and make the right passes, and at the same time defend large spaces in transition and track runners in settled play.
Baleba is certainly an upgrade on United’s current options, but had he moved to Old Trafford with a £100m price tag on his head, fans and pundits alike would have demanded the 22-year-old to tick all the boxes, in and out of possession, intensifying pressure and scrutiny.
Accordingly, United should explore the market for a more well-rounded option, and that too at a reasonable price, allowing Amorim to address short-term issues that come with fielding Fernandes in midfield.
In that regard, Sander Berge is one realistic target. The Norwegian has been on the radar of United scouts for the past few years, and Amorim witnessed his quality first-hand in London last week.
Berge was everywhere for Fulham against United, regularly dispossessing the visitors and recycling possession for the hosts.
Standing in at 6’5″, Berge possesses physicality and athleticism to partner Fernandes. Further, the 27-year-old has earned plaudits from the likes of Vincent Kompany for his eye for a pass and ball-carrying ability.
Last season, only three players recorded better final third pass success rates in the Premier League (200+ passes) than Berge.
Fulham spent an initial £20m to sign him from Burnley last summer. As such, it might not take a lot to bring the Cottagers to the negotiating table before Monday’s deadline.
Once Amorim manages to steady the ship and show signs that his United side are capable of playing in the way Sporting did, INEOS can go all out to bring in a marquee midfielder, capable of taking his project to the next level.
Featured image Mike Hewitt via Getty Images
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