Manchester United edge closer to a midfield plan

Manchester United pursue midfield options after a busy transfer window with Baleba linked but no deal completed.

United miss Baleba alternative amid £87m release clause

Manchester United announced the signing of Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig for £73.7million. The 22-year-old is expected to lead the forward line as the club aims to improve scoring ahead of the new season.

Attention now shifts to midfield targets. Carlos Baleba has been heavily linked with a move, but Brighton are known to demand top value and may resist unless a price matches their valuation. Valencia midfielder Javi Guerra had been linked with a move but signed a new deal until 2029 that includes an 87 million pound release clause; United will monitor him but are not moving this summer.

Manchester United is balancing ambition with market discipline. The club has spent heavily this window on Sesko and other signings to lift the attack, while the midfield hunt tests budget sanity and patience in equal measure. The quest for Baleba underscores how much the team still needs a reliable engine in the middle of the park, and it highlights the risk of paying over the odds in a hot market.

The 87 million pound release clause attached to Guerra at Valencia exposes the market pressure teams face when chasing emerging talent. United will likely keep watching affordable, sustainable options in Spain and elsewhere, signaling a longer term plan beyond headline signings. The window will be judged by the balance between immediate impact and financial steadiness.

Highlights

Transfer markets move fast, and clear eyes will decide how United pace their progress.