Keane questions Baleba price at United

Roy Keane weighs in on Manchester United's pursuit of Carlos Baleba amid a heavy summer of signings

Keane questions Baleba price as United chase midfield fix

Manchester United have been repeatedly linked with Carlos Baleba of Brighton as a potential holding midfielder this summer. Roy Keane has publicly questioned whether a £100m fee makes sense for a player with limited top-flight experience, even as United have already spent around £200m on attacking options this window. Baleba has made 77 appearances for Brighton since joining in 2023, scoring four times, with 61 of those appearances in the Premier League. Brighton are reportedly valuing him around £100m this summer, a price that has raised eyebrows among observers.

The debate extends beyond Baleba. The piece notes United’s broader transfer approach, including recent arrivals such as Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, and Benjamin Sesko, and warns that paying a nine-figure sum for a young midfielder carries long-term risk. It also cites Moises Caicedo’s move from Brighton to Chelsea as a cautionary example of how big fees can pay off or misfire. With Baleba’s contract running to August 2028, some argue there are cheaper, proven ways to strengthen midfield while the market continues to inflate.

The article highlights a key tension in modern football: teams want immediate impact but face unpredictable returns from teenage prospects. Paying a premium for youth can backfire if development stalls or confidence wavers under pressure. The emphasis on short-term fixes at United reflects a broader trend in a crowded market where clubs chase headlines as much as results. The piece also underlines how media voices and expert scrutiny shape the narrative around transfer targets, turning personal opinion into a wider debate about strategy and value.

This moment could test United’s balance between building long-term assets and solving urgent gaps. If Baleba proves capable, the fee might look prescient in a few seasons; if not, it could become a costly lesson about market hype and the limits of short timelines for youth.

Highlights

The transfer market keeps testing how far potential can stretch a club’s finances.