Carlos Baleba to Man United: Strengths, weaknesses and the big transfer verdict

Manchester United must address one of the biggest problem areas in their squad when the summer transfer window opens.

Finding the perfect balance in midfield has been a persistent issue for the club over the past few seasons.

Casemiro may have aged like fine wine, but his departure at the end of the campaign will leave a significant void for INEOS to fill.

Carlos Baleba is one of the names on United’s transfer wishlist for this summer.

The Red Devils even made an approach for the midfielder last year and could revive their interest in the upcoming transfer window.

Strengths

Baleba is an energetic and highly athletic midfielder capable of covering large areas of the pitch with ease.

He is a strong tackler who excels at winning the ball back from opponents.

The youngster also possesses the ability to drive forward with the ball, using his pace and power to glide past defenders.

Casemiro has served as United’s traditional midfield destroyer, and Baleba could potentially fill a similar role.

The Cameroonian is even more dynamic than the Brazilian, a quality United are keen to have in their next holding midfielder.

This is a major positive and potentially the main reason why the Red Devils want to bring him to Old Trafford.

Weaknesses

While Baleba excels at recovering possession, his contribution on the ball still needs improvement.

More often than not, he prefers the safe option rather than attempting riskier forward passes.

According to FotMob, he averages just 0.28 chances created per 90 minutes in the Premier League.

His attacking threat is also minimal, with only 0.07 shots on target per 90 minutes.

DataMB statistics further show that he ranks only in the fifth percentile among Premier League midfielders for progressive passes completed.

Final Verdict

Baleba could be an ideal signing if United are primarily searching for a midfielder who can win possession and launch quick transitions.

However, based on his current performances, he is not the type of player who would transform the team into a possession-dominant side.

At just 22 years old, there is still plenty of room for improvement in several areas of his game.

United could find themselves in a similar situation to that of Manuel Ugarte.

The Uruguayan brings tremendous energy and defensive intensity, consistently winning the ball and making tackles.

However, his struggles with progressive passing have limited his overall impact.

Baleba does at least possess valuable Premier League experience and could adapt quickly at Old Trafford.

That said, United should not expect to build their midfield around him from day one. It will be highly unfair on the youngster and could suppress his immense potential.

Article written by Sanidhya Bhardwaj .